Merchants Benefit Administration (MBA) has notified individuals of a data breach that may impact the privacy of certain information provided to the company. On February 29, 2024, MBA discovered suspicious activity related to an employee email account and promptly secured the affected account. A third-party forensic investigation revealed that three employee email accounts were subject to unauthorized access between January 16 and February 29, 2024. Although MBA has found no evidence suggesting that the information was misused, they are informing affected individuals out of an abundance of caution.
The potentially accessed information includes personal details such as first and last names, along with other sensitive data. MBA has taken immediate steps to secure their email system and is reviewing their data protection policies and procedures. As part of their response, MBA is offering complimentary Single Bureau Credit Monitoring, Credit Report, and Credit Score services to those affected. These services provide alerts for any changes to credit files, helping individuals stay vigilant against potential fraud.
In addition to these measures, MBA is providing proactive fraud assistance through Cyberscout, a TransUnion company specializing in fraud remediation services. Affected individuals are encouraged to enroll in the complimentary credit monitoring services and to regularly review their account statements and credit history for any unauthorized activity. MBA also advises reporting any suspicious incidents to local law enforcement or the state Attorney General.
For more information, MBA has set up a dedicated call center available Monday through Friday, excluding major U.S. holidays. MBA emphasizes their commitment to data security and is taking steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. This breach serves as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and the need for continuous monitoring of personal information.
