Fidelity Investments has reported a significant data breach affecting the personal information of over 77,000 customers. In a filing to Maine’s Attorney General on October 9, the firm revealed that 77,099 individuals were impacted, a small segment of its larger customer base of 51.5 million. The breach occurred when an attacker accessed sensitive customer details using two newly created accounts between August 17 and 19. The unauthorized access was detected by Fidelity on August 19, prompting immediate action to terminate the intrusion.
The asset management giant, which oversees $5 trillion in assets, engaged external security experts to assist in addressing the breach, emphasizing that there was no unauthorized access to Fidelity’s primary accounts. The company is providing affected customers with complimentary credit monitoring and identity restoration services for two years, allowing them to keep an eye on any unusual activities that could harm their financial well-being. Those impacted are required to sign up with the credit reporting agency TransUnion Interactive to take advantage of these protective measures.
Fidelity has urged affected individuals to maintain vigilance against possible fraudulent activities or identity theft. They recommended that customers regularly check their financial statements to identify any discrepancies. This incident marks Fidelity’s fourth data breach within the past year, following earlier occurrences on March 4, March 18, and July 19.
In addition to potential security risks, Fidelity continues to expand its product offerings in the cryptocurrency market. This year, the firm launched spot Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S., achieving impressive inflows since their introductions. Notably, the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund has attracted nearly $10 billion, while the Fidelity Ethereum Fund has garnered $445 million since its debut in July. Other companies, such as OpenAI and AT&T, have also experienced significant data breaches in recent months, highlighting ongoing challenges in protecting sensitive customer information.
