Citibank exposes 600,000 customers' Social Security numbers!
NEW YORK - March 10, 2010 - Ralph Remakel received a Citibank letter postmarked February 16 that notified him of a recent Citibank error. It turns out he wasn't the only one.
In late January, Citibank mailed year-end tax statements to 600,000 Citi customers via the U.S. Postal Service that included the customers' Social Security numbers ... on the outside of the envelope.
Citi called the mistake a "processing error."
Although the nine-digit numbers were not identified as Social Security numbers (they were printed at the lower edge of the envelope with other numbers and letters and resembled a mail routing number), Citi still reacted to the mistake. Executive Vice President and Director of Citibank Client Services Norman White sent customer notification letters to every affected Citi customer during the week of February 15, apologizing for the error.
The letter offered Citi customers the option to enroll in a free, 180-day credit monitoring service arranged by Citibank, but White also encouraged customers to regularly review activity on their accounts.
Remakel said he did not take advantage of Citibank's credit monitoring service offer.
"It’s like small change compared to the effect of me getting my Social Security number compromised," said Remakel. "Who would really see it except the Post Office? But it’s not like it’s hidden in any way. What’s the easiest way to take someone’s identity? Their Social Security number."
Ed. Note: Why isn’t this prosecuted as criminal negligence? If people are supposed to have a legal right to their privacy, then it seems to me that when a company breaches that right, there should be severe civil and criminal penalties. Who will be held accountable? When is enough, enough? Revolution Now! Independence Forever!
In late January, Citibank mailed year-end tax statements to 600,000 Citi customers via the U.S. Postal Service that included the customers' Social Security numbers ... on the outside of the envelope.
Citi called the mistake a "processing error."
Although the nine-digit numbers were not identified as Social Security numbers (they were printed at the lower edge of the envelope with other numbers and letters and resembled a mail routing number), Citi still reacted to the mistake. Executive Vice President and Director of Citibank Client Services Norman White sent customer notification letters to every affected Citi customer during the week of February 15, apologizing for the error.
The letter offered Citi customers the option to enroll in a free, 180-day credit monitoring service arranged by Citibank, but White also encouraged customers to regularly review activity on their accounts.
Remakel said he did not take advantage of Citibank's credit monitoring service offer.
"It’s like small change compared to the effect of me getting my Social Security number compromised," said Remakel. "Who would really see it except the Post Office? But it’s not like it’s hidden in any way. What’s the easiest way to take someone’s identity? Their Social Security number."
Ed. Note: Why isn’t this prosecuted as criminal negligence? If people are supposed to have a legal right to their privacy, then it seems to me that when a company breaches that right, there should be severe civil and criminal penalties. Who will be held accountable? When is enough, enough? Revolution Now! Independence Forever!
