Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that he has launched an investigation into National Public Data, a background check company that allows its customers to search billions of records with instant results, over allegations that they failed to properly secure and safeguard Missourians’ personally identifiable information. Information potentially at risk of being exposed in this breach included Social Security numbers, current and past addresses, full names, and other private records.
“I will always fight for Missouri consumers, especially if their personal information was stolen by bad actors,” said Attorney General Bailey. “Companies have a duty under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act to safeguard Missourians’ personally identifiable information, and Missourians deserve to know whether their information is at risk. No stone will be left unturned in this investigation.”
The Attorney General’s Office became aware of the issue after public reporting on the breach, which alleges cybercriminal group USDoD gained access to National Public Data’s network of information and exfiltrated the unencrypted data of 2.9 billion people. USDoD allegedly put the database up for sale for $3.5 million.
This is not the first step Attorney General Bailey has taken to protect the personal information of Missouri consumers. In addition to filing suit against a group of tax preparation companies for leaking taxpayer information to Big Tech companies, his office has previously brought successful actions against large companies like Experian, T-Mobile, and the cloud computing provider Blackbaud for failing to protect consumers’ private data.
Attorney General Bailey concluded, “I am going to use every tool at my disposal to protect Missourians’ personal information. If you believe you have been affected by this breach, please reach out to my office by calling our Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-(800) 392-8222 or by submitting a complaint online at ago.mo.gov.”
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