More than 21,000 civilians’ and service members’ personal, confidential information was leaked by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve when an unencrypted email with the confidential information was sent to the wrong email distribution list on Monday, the Marine Corps Times reported.
Major data breach at Marine Forces Reserve impacts thousands of Marines and sailors https://t.co/DOFRJYo0w9 pic.twitter.com/c6grz0mkFu
— Military Times (@MilitaryTimes) February 28, 2018
Information contained inside the email included Social Security numbers, credit card information, banking information, addresses, mailing addresses and emergency contact information, Marine Forces Reserve spokesman Maj. Andrew Aranda said in a release.
The email contained data from the Defense Travel System, which helps with itineraries and expense reports for trips.
Aranda said the data leak was quickly noticed and recall procedures took place to limit the number of people who received the email.
“It was very quickly noticed, and email recall procedures were implemented to reduce the number of accounts that received it,” Aranda said in the release. “The Marine Corps takes the protection of individual Marines’ private information and personal data very seriously, and we have steps in place to prevent the accidental or intentional release of such information.”
The personal confidential information leaked in the email could be used by others to commit bank fraud, steal identities and other criminal activity, the Marine Corps Times reported.
The Marine Corps intends on letting those affected know about the data breach and will help them prevent falling victim to those that would illegally use the information.
