Minnesota-based student lending company Educational Credit Management Corporation, which guarantees student loans and also serves as U.S. Department of Education’s designated provider for bankruptcy services, has lost information about 3.3 million students debtors. According to the company’s press release, ECMC:
Had a theft occur from its headquarters the weekend of March 20-21, involving portable media with personally identifiable information for 3.3 million ECMC student loan borrowers [and co-signers]. The stolen data included names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers. No savings, checking or credit card information was included in the data.
No word yet on how the identify theft occurred. There’s also no indication that there’s been any misuse of the information though, of course, it’s only a matter of time. People don’t generally steal personal data to, you know, do nice things. [Image via]
