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Millions of Drivers in 12 States May Have Had Their Driver’s License Info Exposed in a Data Breach—Were You One of Them?

Think your driver’s license is just a card you pull out when you need to prove your age or board a flight? Think again. A recent data breach may have exposed the personal information of millions of drivers, and there’s a chance your info may be caught up in it.

We’re used to hearing about stolen credit card numbers and hacked bank accounts, but this type of breach could create a whole different set of problems. That’s because the very detailed information on your driver’s license could give criminals another piece of the puzzle they need to impersonate you or target you with scams.

So what happened, who may be affected and what should you do if your information was exposed? Read on for everything you need to know about the breach and how to check if you’re on the list.

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What happened, exactly?

An insurance company called AssuranceAmerica was hit by a cyberattack, and it wasn’t just a handful of customer records that were exposed—we’re talking about nearly 7 million people. The breach actually happened back in March, but the details are only now becoming public, which is why we’re all suddenly hearing about it.

According to the company, hackers got into its systems after targeting an employee and were able to copy customer files. Those files reportedly included everything from insurance policy and claims information to driver details and—yes—driver’s license numbers. The good news? There haven’t been any public reports that the stolen information has been misused so far. But identity thieves are known for playing the long game, so this is definitely one of those “better safe than sorry” situations.

Which states are affected?

If you’ve ever had auto or renters insurance through AssuranceAmerica, now’s the time to double-check where you stand. The company writes policies in these 12 states:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Indiana
  • Nebraska
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia

What kind of info is on your driver’s license—and what can scammers do with it?

There’s a surprising amount of personal information on that little card. Along with your photo, your driver’s license usually includes your full name, address, birthday, driver’s license number and other details that help prove your identity.

That’s why this kind of breach can be more of a headache than a stolen credit card. If someone gets your credit card number, you cancel it and move on. Your driver’s license is a different story. Scammers can more easily use that information—especially when it’s combined with other personal data from a breach—to open accounts in your name, create fake IDs, change your mailing address or pull off other identity-theft scams.

What should you do now?

If you had a policy with AssuranceAmerica, keep an eye on your mailbox. The company says it started sending notification letters to affected customers on July 10. But even if you never get one, it’s still smart to take a few precautions if the company has your information.

Start by freezing your credit and setting up fraud alerts if you haven’t already. Then keep a closer-than-usual eye on your bank accounts and credit reports for anything that doesn’t look right. Since your driver’s license number may have been exposed, you might want to request your driving record and even run a background check on yourself. It might sound over the top, but it’s one of the quickest ways to catch if someone is using your identity before a small problem turns into a much bigger one.

And if you do find evidence that your license information has been misused, contact your state’s DMV right away. Depending on where you live, you might be able to get a new license number.

Sources:

  • TechCrunch: “Another Massive Data Breach Exposed Millions of Driver’s License Numbers”
  • Consumer Reports: “What Information Is Available When Someone Scans My Driver’s License?”

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