Man Steals Personal Data of 20 Million Credit Card Users

The victims’ personal data was simply copied to a USB stick and passed on to marketing companies.

Gamblers are advised to think twice before using their credit cards to bet on sports in South Korea, as local news report that nearly half of the state’s citizens ended up with their credit card information stolen and sold to marketing companies.

South Korean gambling laws don’t grant licenses for local online sportsbooks or casino operators, but now credit card owners have even more reasons to stay away from foreign websites as well. A computer contractor employed by a firm called the Korea Credit Bureau managed to copy the names, social security numbers and credit card details of 20 million South Koreans.

The police caught and arrested the man, as well as the managers of the companies which are said to have bought the stolen information.

Increased measures for data protection

Korea Credit Bureau had access to all databases run by KB Kookmin Card, Lotte Card and NH Nonghyup Card, so now the three credit card companies are taking extra measures to secure their customers’ personal information. Their managers have issued public apologies for the security breach.

According to the Financial Services Commission, the data was unencrypted, which made it easy to access and copy. The national financial regulator added, in a statement: “The credit card firms will cover any financial losses caused to their customers due to the latest accident.”