A box of computer tapes containing personal information on 3.9 million customers of CitiFinancial was lost recently by United Parcel Service, while in transit to a credit bureau, Citigroup said Monday. CitiFinancial, the consumer finance subsidiary of Citigroup, has begun mailing a letter to all customers affected by the breach in security.
The tapes contained names, Social Security numbers, account numbers and payment histories of customers who acquired loan products through one of CitiFinancial�s network of more than 1,800 branches, or retailers in the United States. The tapes did not contain any customer information from CitiFinancial Auto, CitiFinancial Mortgage or any other Citigroup business.
The company said it had no reason to believe that this information has been used inappropriately, nor has it received any reports of unauthorized activity.
Furthermore, there was no information on these tapes relating to customers of the CitiFinancial network operations in Canada or Puerto Rico.
Beginning in July, CitiFinancial said the information they provide to credit bureaus will be sent via direct encrypted electronic transmission.
(via Business Wire)
{ 84 comments }
why are not these people liable for my account and social security #
Seems to me that 90 days worth of free credit-monitoring service is worth little when identity-theft can be an issue forever! (especially considering you can’t just up and change your social security number)
I think these people should be liable and would be interested in a class action suit against Citifinancial & the company handling the data.
I am also interested in a class action suit. I think ups should be included.
I am very interested in a class action lawsuit. This constitutes breach of contract; why should we be expected to maintain our end of the bargain when they failed to protect our personal information-I feel Citi Financial is obligated to pay their debtors a significant monetary value to fulfill obligations.
Citifinancial keeps saying that we should be ok because we already have a loan and can’t get another without positive identification. What they are avoiding is the fact that anyone who obtains this information will not likely go to Citifinancial, but will use it for fraud with any number of other companies. I was also told by Citifinancial on 6/09/05 that the data on the tapes was encrypted and the credit bureau would have to decode it. I have not seen in any news story that the data was encrypted. I feel that would be one of the first things they would mention. I also feel that they are lying to me. This is much more serious than they are making it out to be.
Just got back from a local attorney who blew me and a friend off. I definitely want to sue. They get my money and they failed to keep my information safe, so why should we have to pay.
This is vital info and there definitely needs to be a class action. Who says someone has not already made money on our info from the inside?
I too think it is a must for a class action suit. I was told that the data was not encrypted on the tapes. Why would this just not be standard. Also why send such info through so many hands when they were instantly able to assure us that it would be sent elec. encrypted the next time around. This is obviously gross neglegence on both parts. What are these so called extra security measures they have been using when sending via UPS in the past and if so how was it even possible to lose a box with tracking etc. The future for us is imminent!
When I read the letter I just felt a sick feeling in my stomach. How do they expect to locate this box? And the free monitoring doesn’t make me feel any better either.
I wonder if Citi Ceo Harry Goff and the board would be okay with the 90 day free monitoring as payment if their social numbers, DOB, mothers maiden name, etc were included in the “lost box”? I think something needs to be done, as we will forever be at risk…
I am interested in a class action lawsuit as well. This is very disturbing to me when there are laws. They have broken everyones trust. How can we expect them to be able to keep our information confidental?? They have breached everyones information and that is unconstitutional. Something needs to be done and as a group. Thanks, Ashley
After reading all your comments, I wholeheartedly agree on a class action suit. Citifinancial and UPS are both liable and should be sued for breach of contract and putting all of us in danger of losing everything we worked so hard to keep personal and confidential. It is a breach of trust. I am a 100 lb., 63 yr. old woman who now fears for her safety because my name, address and phone number were also on the tape as well as Social Security #, date of birth, etc.. I don’t know if anyone of you out there considered the physical danger implications. I certainly want to be notified by the attorney(s) who decide to pick up this hot potato. I also called 6 lawyers this morning and was told it was not their area of expertise. Right! I will be waiting to hear about what comes of all this.
Good luck to all of us!.
Marie
If anyone does hear of a class action suit please let me know
I feel that we should all do our best to research what Citi is doing to correct, or at least help us understand the problem. We should ask them questions like was the box ever located, is there any reason to believe it is on the street, etc. If it has been confirmed that UPS lost the package where was it last tracked, which one of their employees handled it last, etc. By having multiple people contact Citi to ask questions it will show that we are not simply upset, but we are genuinely terrified for our own well being and future financial status. Chances are pretty good that Citi and UPS will both see this string of messages and be proactive rather then sit back and wait for a lawsuit. Never the less, I will keep reading this chain of messages and add anything new that I find out, including any information on a qualified law firm.
I didn’t sleep half the night thinking of the ramifications of the loss of these tapes. Just when I thought I was getting on top of my credit, this happens. I don’t need the stress, and they are responsible. Notify me of any class action suit. Newsweek had an excellent opinion piece on it this week (June 20 issue). It’s by Steven Levy, entitled “Lost My Secrets? Pay Up, Buddy!” and you can find it at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8184956/site/newsweek/
I just contacted the unidentified firm’s phone number listed in CitiFinancial’s form letter to enroll in “a credit monitoring service”. They asked for my SSN and I refused to continue with the enrollment. I believe that CitiFinancial should make better efforts to respond in a manner that does not increase risk by asking for SSN. This unknown firm also did not have my account information and refused to allow me to register my wife’s name even though she is also named on the CitiFinancial account. Bad problem – poor service. A 90 day progrma is inadequate and CitiFinancial should at least provide better service to the customers it placed at risk.
I agree with everyone. I am very interested in a class action lawsuit. If anyone hears of anything please keep me informed and I will do the same. Thanks, Ashley
I am very disturbed about how citfinicial could be so negligent with handling confidential information. I just received my letter and my heart dropped; b/c my husband and I have just re-established our credit and then something like this happen. I very angry and I agree something needs to be done about it.
DON’T BE SURPRISE TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY THAN MEETS THE EYE, S T A Y T U N E…………
I AM ALSO INTERESTED IN JOINING IN WITH ANY CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST THESE CROOKS AT CITIFINANCIAL GROUP AS I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM SINCE 1998 WHEN I FINANCED MY HOME AT $50,000.00 + AND WAS FORCED INTO EITHER REFINANCING IT IN 2000 OR LOSING IT BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED I WAS $2000.00 PAST DUE AND I NEVER MISSED A PAYMENT IN OR DURING THIS TIME (EXPLAIN THAT IF YOU CAN) IT DOES NOT STOP THERE I HAVE BEEN REQUESTING A RUN DOWN ON MY PAYMENT HISTORY AND SOME OTHER INFORMATION ON THAT ACCOUNT AND FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE TIMES THEY RESPONDED THAT THEY WERE OR HAD SENT IT OUT TO ME BUT I NEVER HAVE RECEIVED IT, NOW THEY WANT EVEN RESPOND TO ME EVEN AFTER PHONE CALLS AND CERTIFIED LETTERS TO THEM I HAVE EVEN SENT E-MAIL REQUEST TO THE COMMENT LINE AT THE HOME OFFICE STILL NO RESPONSE. AND NO IT DON’T EVEN STOP THERE AND I REALLY DON’T HAVE THE ROOM AND TIME TO GO INTO EVERYTHING, BUT I WILL SAY THIS I ASKED FOR A PAY OFF AND YES THEY DID SEND THAT TO ME WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS AND IT WAS FOR $900.00 MORE THAN I FINANCED FOR IN 1998 NOW HERE IT IS 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 AND 2005 THAT I HAVE BEEN PAYING ON THIS HOME AND I OWE $900.00 MORE THAN I DID FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY LOAN,,,, FOR GOD’S SAKE SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS???????? THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THESE CROOKS AND I AM JUST ABOUT READY TO TURN IT OVER TO SOMEONE AS SOON AS THE CPA GETS THROUGH WITH GOING OVER EVERYTHING IF HE IS ABLE TO DO THIS WITH OUT THE INFORMATION FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE ORIG. CONTRACT TO THE TIME I/WE WERE FORCED INTO HAVING TO REFINANCE IN 2000. NOW YOU PEOPLE THINK YOU HAVE PROBLEMS TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT MIND AND I WOULD ASK IF THERE ARE ANY MORE OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING THESE SAME PROBLEMS AS I AM PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT MLEE822657@AOL.COM.
THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO US ALL IN THIS CLASS ACTION WHEN A GOOD ATTORNEY/OR ATTORNIES SEE THAT THIS IS REAL HOT AND JUMP ON THE TRAIN AND GO AFTER THSES CROOKS.
I AGREE WITH THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AND I CONTACTED:
Righetti Wynne P.C. specializes in handling class action litigation in the field of employment law and specifically in the area of wage and hour law. Righetti Wynne P.C. will continue its efforts dedicated to correcting employers’ violations of minimum working conditions in California.
I am also interested in a class action lawsuit.This is unacceptable and should be corrected!
I took out a loan at citi financial and now I find they lost all my financial information. There is no excuse for this. Even if I recieve a settlement someone can stll steal my financial doings later down the line my social security number is the key to all my life. I want citi to pay me a large some I to support a class action lawsuit. Thank you Dennis H
I am Dennis’s wife and my name and social security is also on some of my husbands financial information. So now I could be in as much trouble as my husband. I and my husband set up nights worring about this so I support a classaction lassuit and I hope citi pays dearly
This whole situation is absolutely absurd. I called Citifinancial’s hotline and reamed them out for this offensive 90 day “bone” they are throwing us. Everyone knows professional identity thieves don’t use this info right away and lie dormant for a while hoping people will let their guard down five years or more from now! Everyone needs to put the pressure on Debby Hopkins (chief of operations with Citifinancial) who actually have the nerve to say, “Customer security is of paramount importance to Citigroup”! I asked Cififinancial to give me some way of contacting her and they said someone would call me back – surprise, surprise, they never called. Don’t give up – keep calling back!!!
citifinancial is a bunch of jerks anyway so they deserve this. they charge outrageous interest because they know they got yah. i do not understand how a company as big as they are would be shipping that stuff by ups, i worked in a company of 6 people and we did it all electronically, how stupid can they be. you have two more votes in wisconsin to sue them.
We are also interested in a lawsuit. We have good credit and now we have to worry about loosing it, all because of CITIFINANCIAL.
If anyone hears of an attorney that is handling a class action law suit on this, please let me know. You cannot trust anyone any more. Don’t you think that if the shoe was on the other foot that they would be taking us to the cleaners. Please keep me informed.
i agree they must pay for their for mistake,we pay them enough!
Bad Stuff. I just hope they find the black box. maybe it will have more clues.
Really: This is so irresponsible.
Everyone keep me informed if you would
I went to the local office to ask for information on this matter . They very vague and evasive. The people in the office was very rude. Let me know about a class action suit.
I received this letter about a week ago. Yesterday, I went into my email only to find someone had tried to take 2,500 out of my bank account through PayPal.
You can retrieve missing passwords through Paypal by putting in your bank account number or credit card number. The bank accout number is on my application to citifinancial.
I am looking for a class action suit also.
Please inform if there is a class action lawsuit being filed against Citifinancial and UPS. I think they both should be held liable for their negligence. teleepoole@yahoo.com
I would like to find out who’s handling the lawsuit. I have called two attorneys and no one has returned my calls. We must work together and make them liable for their negligence
If anyone does hear of a class action suit please let me know!!!!
I am so upset! We have already gotten an alert from this IdentityGaurd that there has been activity! I have also been alerted by paypal that someone was trying to access my account! I too would like to go after Citi for their negligence we will have to worry for the rest of our lives not just for 90 days! Angie
I am so upset! We have already gotten an alert from this IdentityGaurd that there has been activity! I have also been alerted by paypal that someone was trying to access my account! I too would like to go after Citi for their negligence we will have to worry for the rest of our lives not just for 90 days! Angie
Something to think about: if Citi was sending our information to the credit bureaus, and the information had out ssi#,our account info which included addresses, then it might have also included our date of birth for bureau verification. It that is the case, anyone can request a Credit Card using this info with an alternate mailing address. Citi group states we do not have to worry about our accounts with them, but who is going to protect us from credit being obtained from any other company. My wife and I are both very stress with this wholde issue. If any one knows of a case action lawsuit, please notify me, I gladdly live in Hidalgo County, where any experienced lawyer knows that our jurys do not take thing lightly.
I agree with the class action lawsuit. On 3 different occasions I have been called about action on my credit report. This is getting to be a big mess and I am ready to scream. It is not fair that our credit has to be at stake just because of these ignorate people. If anyone hears anything about a class action lawsuite I am with you 100%. Thanks, Ashley
I still can’t believe that Citi Financial could have been so irresponsible. I have lost sleep over this disaster. This should be considered a breach of contract, they were at fault for losing my personal data, which they promised to protect. If anyone is filing a Class Action Lawsuit, please include me.
My husband just spoke with a person at our local Citifinancial office who completely lied to him telling him that we were not affected and we got the letter as a mass mail out. My husband then called the main office and was informed that we were affected by this and our information was contained within the missing box of tapes. I am FURIOUS!!!! I am very interested in the class action law suit and will be checking here frequently for any developments. Thank you for all who are supporting this issue and researching ways to recover everyone’s loss.
There was an article on the web today about a Mount Laurel law firm filling a class action lawsuit against citgroup for the lost tapes. The article is by a Renee Winkler and all it says is that the lawsuit is being filed by a burlington county woman. Does anybody know anything about this?
I just spoke with a paralegal at Pallettiere, Rabstein and Altman in Mt Holly, NJ. I think there is a law suit pending. He stated that if and when the suit is filed, I would be contacted.
It takes years though.
We should just continue to pay our damn loans and wait.
This company has something brewing that they are not allowed to speak about yet.
Give them a call and get on the list.
(609)267-3390
i was told as of yesterday that if youre one of the ones that was effected by this,that breach of contract will apply an your loan will not need to be paid it is there policy to not make you pay them back an youre credit will remain in good standing so hell fire im looking at pocketing 15,000.00 for there mess up haha heee heee
i contacted the main branch friday the manager told me to not panic they were going to let everyone that were effected there loan would be paid in full thats floored me how could they do this dam i own 17,000.00 to them hey mr basden looks like we both made out on the screw up……anyone wanting info feel free to contact me at 1910-298-4067 an ill let you no the branch manager to call for the no pay loan file he sent me,. thks bill
We too would like to know when anyone finds out about a class action lawsuit. We are still making our payments as of now until we hear otherwise.
Billy and Travis,
My thing is do you have that in writing?? I do not believe anything until I see it. I agree that they should do that but I just don’t know. I totally agree with a class action law suit. I am waiting on a manager to call me back from there corporate office. If you hear anything else let me know.
Thanks,
Ashley
I spoke with two law firms on this. Both are interested in filing suit. One is Pellettieri, Robstein and Altman in NJ. The other is Keogh, Cox, & Wilson, Ltd.
I also spoke with a customer service rep at headquarters. This person stated they are not going to forgive our debts.
Call both of these law offices and get on board. That is the only thing we can do at this point.
If anyone hears that they are forgiving our debts, please leave the name and phone number of the person whom you talked too.
Believe me, we all would like to hear that.
Daniel
New Jersey
I Billy V. Smith did not in any way submit any information to or on this web site. I have not in anyway had a loan with Citifinancial, nor do I owe them anything. I’m sorry for the mishap on Citifinancial’s part as well as for anyone else connected with this unfortunate situation. However I am very troubled that someone is using my name in a slanderous way, especially using my telephone number. I just wish I knew whom the big man is who felt free to invade my family’s privacy cause if I did he’d know what a Law Suit is all about. Any further sightings of my name or phone number will result in immediate legal action.
P.S. I know who you are 17 thousand dollar man.
Thank you
Billy V. Smith
what the hell was citifinancial thinking,by having UPS deliver those kind of records in the fist place. thats a job for brinks. i think they must pay dearly for their stupid mistake.SUE THE PANTS OFF THEIRE ASS!
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