US investigates Web release of credit data on Mrs. Obama, Beyonce, others

“We should not be surprised that if we've got hackers that want to dig in and have a lot of resources, that they can access this information,” Obama told ABC News. “Again, not sure how accurate but ... you've got websites out there that tell people's credit card info. That's how sophisticated they are.”

The FBI and other U.S. agencies said they were investigating a website that posted financial and personal information about Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, other government figures and celebrities.

Some of the information was fraudulently obtained via a commonly used website for consumer credit reports, according to credit monitoring firm Equifax Inc, which said it was launching its own internal investigation.

It was unclear how much of the data, which first appeared on the website www.exposed.su on Monday, was accurate or who posted it.

The site listed Social Security numbers, telephone numbers, addresses and credit reports purportedly belonging to 18 prominent Americans. At least some of the telephone numbers were inaccurate.

The website, whose first page portrayed a mysterious-looking woman wearing heavy eye make-up with one finger over her lips, was still accessible on Tuesday although some links relating to individuals could not be opened.

Others listed on the page included FBI Director Robert Mueller, Attorney General Eric Holder, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, actors Ashton Kutcher and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and property mogul Donald Trump.

Asked about the posting on Michelle Obama, Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie said: “We are investigating the matter. Due to the ongoing investigation we can't comment any further.” A Justice Department spokeswoman said the FBI was investigating.

Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Sara Faden said the department was also looking into the matter but said celebrities would have to file a police report to get their entry investigated.

Equifax, one of three main U.S. credit monitoring companies, said the information for four of the high-profile individuals was accessed through annualcreditreport.com, a shared website also used by rivals TransUnion Corp. and Experian PLC. It did not name the four individuals.

The company's initial investigation found that the perpetrators had personal information on certain individuals that allowed them to pass authentication steps, company spokesman Timothy Klein said.

“The fraudsters would have had to have a lot of information ... this is pretty detailed stuff,” he said. Those responsible for the breach would have had to know about mortgages, car loans, or other credit accounts to get the reports, he added.

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	Argentine leader refuses to bow over Falklands

NEXT ARTICLE
Iran seeks US wheat in face of nuclear tensions

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit