On November 2, 2022, Petersen International Underwriters reported a data breach with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office after the company learned that some of the information contained on its computer system was compromised. According to PIU, the breach resulted in certain consumers’ names, Social Security numbers, account numbers, credit & debit card numbers and driver’s license numbers being compromised. Recently, PIU sent out data breach letters to all affected parties, informing them of the incident and what they can do to protect themselves from identity theft and other frauds.
If you received a letter from Petersen International Underwriting informing you that your personal information was subject to unauthorized access, you are now at an increased risk of falling victim to identity theft and other frauds. However, as we’ve discussed in prior posts on the topic, there are steps that data breach victims can take to mitigate these risks. Additionally, if evidence emerges that a company was negligent in how it handles or stored consumer information, data breach victims may be able to obtain financial compensation from the company that leaked their information.
More About the Petersen International Underwriters Data Breach
The available information regarding the Petersen International Underwriters breach comes from the company’s filing with the Attorney General of Massachusetts. According to this source, on December 20, 2021, Petersen International Underwriters detected a network security issue when portions of the company’s computer network unexpectedly became inaccessible. In response, PIU took the affected systems offline, secured its network, and then launched an investigation into the incident with the assistance of third-party data security specialists.
The company’s investigation confirmed that an unauthorized party was able to gain access to certain files contained on its network. The investigation also revealed that some of these files contained sensitive information belonging to individuals who sought an insurance quote or obtained an insurance policy through the company.
Upon discovering that sensitive consumer data was made available to an unauthorized party, Petersen International Underwriters began to review the affected files to determine what information was compromised and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, Social Security number, account number, credit & debit card number and driver’s license number.
On November 2, 2022, Petersen International Underwriters sent out data breach letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident.
More Information About Petersen International Underwriters
Petersen International Underwriters is an insurance underwriter based in Valencia, California. The company provides insurance solutions for disability, life, medical and contingency risks, all of which are sold through licensed insurance professionals. Petersen International Underwriters is licensed to do business in all 50 states and other countries across the world. Petersen International Underwriters employs more than 40 people and generates approximately $45 million in annual revenue.
