Benton County Data Breach

In late 2019, Benton County was targeted by a sophisticated scam that involved a fraudulent transfer of $740,000 to a bank account in Atlanta. The scam was traced to a thief in India who used a slightly altered version of the name of a legitimate Kennewick construction firm. This scam was followed by a data breach that compromised certain individuals’ personal information. Affected individuals may be entitled to compensation and should consider exploring their legal options.

Benton County Scam Investigation

The scam began when a thief created an online domain that resembled the name of a real construction company. The fraudulent email address closely mirrored the name of a legitimate employee at the firm, leading employees from the Benton County Auditor’s Office to believe they were communicating with a real accountant.

Over the course of three weeks, approximately 20 emails were exchanged regarding a bill the county owed for several building projects. On November 15, 2019, the county transferred $740,000 to a bank account in Atlanta under the impression that it was a legitimate payment. Shortly after, the thief withdrew $23,000 in small transactions. Fortunately, the remaining $717,200 was seized by the U.S. Secret Service, which launched a criminal investigation into the matter.

The scam involved social engineering tactics and phishing, which tricked county employees into processing the fraudulent transaction. This incident occurred around the same time as the data breach detailed in Benton County’s recent report.

Benton County Data Breach Investigation

The data breach occurred between November 11 and December 9, 2019, when unauthorized access was gained to a county email account. Benton County did not discover the breach until September 14, 2020, after conducting a thorough review. It was determined that the compromised email account contained personal information related to certain individuals.

Upon discovery of the breach, Benton County initiated an immediate investigation, assisted by its risk management team and third-party forensic specialists. Affected individuals were notified of the breach in mid-December 2020, and the county implemented additional safeguards and employee training to prevent future incidents.

As a precautionary measure, the county offered one year of free credit monitoring services to the victims of the breach.

When Did These Incidents Occur?

• Scam Incident: The fraudulent transfer of $740,000 took place on November 15, 2019.

• Data Breach: Unauthorized access to the county’s email account occurred between November 11 and December 9, 2019. The breach was discovered in September 2020, and affected individuals were notified in December 2020.

What Information Was Breached?

The following types of personal information may have been exposed during the data breach:

• Names

• Social Security numbers

• Other sensitive personal information stored within the compromised email account

While no evidence of fraud or identity theft has been reported, Benton County is offering affected individuals credit monitoring services to help safeguard their information.

What You Can Do

If you believe your information was compromised in this data breach or if you were affected by the Benton County scam, here are the steps you should take:

1. Monitor Your Accounts: Keep a close eye on your credit reports, bank statements, and other personal accounts for any unusual activity or errors.

2. Sign Up for Credit Monitoring: Benton County is offering free credit monitoring for one year. Take advantage of this service to help detect any potential misuse of your personal information.

3. Place a Fraud Alert: You can place a fraud alert on your credit reports to warn potential creditors that your information may have been compromised.

4. Consider a Credit Freeze: A credit freeze will prevent anyone from opening accounts in your name without your consent.

5. Seek Legal Help: If you were impacted by the data breach or scam, you may be entitled to compensation. Fill out our secure form to connect with an attorney who can help you explore your legal options.

File a Data Breach Lawsuit Against Benton County

If you received a breach notification or suspect that your personal data was compromised, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit for compensation. By joining a class action lawsuit, you can seek justice for the breach and hold Benton County accountable for its failure to protect your sensitive information.

Class Action U is here to help you navigate this process and connect you with experienced attorneys. To learn more about your rights and potential compensation, fill out our easy and secure form today. Our legal partner will provide a free consultation with no obligation to take further action.