LA Financial Credit Union, based in Arcadia, California, recently sent a notice of data breach to its members, informing them that their personal identifiable information (PII) might have been compromised. While the credit union did not disclose the exact number of affected members, it confirmed that unauthorized access to member information occurred due to suspicious activity related to an employee email account. The breach notice, sent in September 2024, revealed that the compromised data could include members’ names, account numbers, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, dates of birth, and email addresses.
The breach was discovered around June 10, 2024, when suspicious activity within the email system was flagged. LA Financial quickly took action by securing the email system and seeking the help of third-party computer specialists to investigate the incident. Upon review, the credit union determined that a single employee’s email account was accessed without authorization. The ongoing investigation aims to fully understand the nature and extent of the breach.
While the full scope of the breach is still being determined, LA Financial began notifying members whose data had been exposed. The review process to identify all impacted individuals is still ongoing, but those known to have been affected have been informed and offered resources to protect their personal information. As part of the response to the breach, LA Financial has offered its members a credit monitoring service, which is designed to help detect any unusual activity in their credit reports that could signal identity theft or fraud.
LA Financial serves over 24,000 members and operates with a staff of 81 employees. The credit union is also working with the California Attorney General’s office regarding the breach. Despite the breach, LA Financial has emphasized its commitment to securing member information and is taking steps to enhance its security protocols. Members have been urged to monitor their accounts for suspicious activity and to take advantage of the credit monitoring service being offered.
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