Christina Spicer  |  April 20, 2021

Category: Data Breach

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Geico Warns Consumers of Months Long Data Breach

Driver’s license numbers were exposed for over a month in a data breach recently announced by insurer Geico.  

Geico reportedly sent a warning letter to affected consumers and a data breach notice to California’s attorney general. The insurer says that it has fixed the issue that led to the security breach, reports TechCrunch, but consumers need to be on the lookout for fraud, specifically when it comes to unemployment benefits.  

Geico’s notice states that the data breach occurred between Jan. 21 and March 1, 2021. The insurer says that identity thieves were able to access customers’ driver’s license numbers and can use that information to fraudulently apply for unemployment benefits. In fact, the company says it has reason to believe that the driver’s license numbers exposed in the months-long breach could be used for this purpose.  

“If you receive any mailings from your state’s unemployment agency/department, please review them carefully and contact that agency/department if there is any chance fraud is being committed,” warns Geico in its data breach notification to customers dated April 9.  

The company goes on to offer a year of identity theft protection to customers affected by the Geico data breach.  

While Geico has not stated how many customers were affected, companies must notify the California attorney general of data breaches when more than 500 state residents are affected, reports TechCrunch. 

Fraudulent unemployment claims have been on the rise since the coronavirus pandemic put millions out of work. At least one state had to halt claims processing after it was inundated with fraudulent unemployment claims that totaled $1.6 million, according to a Seattle Times report.  

Bank of America has faced multiple class action lawsuits after it allegedly cut off access to unemployment benefits, citing fraud concerns.  

Driver’s license numbers may be a form of identification required by unemployment departments to process claims. Fraudsters can use driver’s license numbers exposed in data breaches or otherwise stolen to apply for unemployment benefits under an assumed identity. Indeed, state departments of motor vehicle records have been targeted in cyberattacks this year, with the driver’s license numbers and other personal information of 27.7 million Texans exposed, according to a class action lawsuit 

There were more than 1,000 data breaches affecting more than 150 million records in 2020 alone. No litigation in the Geico data breach has been reported, but Top Class Actions will continue to monitor this story.  

Was your information exposed in the Geico data breach? Are you concerned about unemployment fraud? Tell us about it in the comment section below! 

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31 thoughts onGeico Warns Consumers of Months Long Data Breach

  1. lori martin says:

    Geico Data Breach victim.

  2. Brittany Dugger says:

    Add me

  3. Lori McKenzie says:

    Add me

  4. Taylor Miller says:

    Please add me

  5. Pamela says:

    Please add me

  6. Matthew Taylor says:

    Please add me.

  7. Genesis says:

    Add me please

  8. BRENDA-LIZ VELEZ says:

    Count me in!

  9. GAIL BECKER says:

    GEICO did not notify me of the data breach. I have had GEICO auto insurance for many years. A false unemployment claim was filed in my name in DC. I live in MD. Please add me.

  10. Bruce M WOODRUFF says:

    Add me please

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