Data thieves strike again, filching info on up to 32,000

0 Comments | USA TODAY, March, 2005 | by Jim Hopkins

In the second case of its kind in the past month, a company said Wednesday that thieves had stolen Social Security numbers and other data on up to 32,000 U.S. consumers.

LexisNexis, a data broker, said it discovered the breach in the past 10 days in a review of procedures at Seisint, a Florida firm it bought last year that already was the subject of controversy.

LexisNexis said it referred the case to federal law enforcement officials. The FBI said it is investigating.

The company will notify the 32,000 consumers whose identities may have been stolen. And it will help them monitor credit reports and other accounts for signs of mischief, such as unauthorized purchases.

The disclosure follows that of rival ChoicePoint, which last month said thieves may...