Hartwig Moss Insurance Agency discloses data breach affecting 1,100 customers

Insurance companies hold a lot of sensitive financial data such as social security numbers, bank account info, etc.. This is pretty big local breach of customer information if you use these guys so make sure you monitor all of your accounts ASAP.

NOLA

Hartwig Moss Insurance Agency, a fifth-generation New Orleans business on Canal Street, revealed Wednesday (March 20) that a data breach may have exposed personal info for roughly 1,100 customers.

The breach involved basic information, including names, birthdates and driver’s license numbers, taken from the company’s insurance accounts, according to a news release. The release said “limited medical information” for a “small number of individuals" may have also been accessed.

The insurance agency did not provide a timeline for when the breach occurred, but said the incident was only “recently discovered.” The company hired independent computer forensic experts to explore “suspicious activity related to two employee email accounts,” according to the release. Experts were able to identify the phishing attack and determine that just under 1,100 individuals were affected. However, it was not clear whether any of the information in the accounts was actually compromised.

Moss said the company has reviewed its policies in light of the breach and is making changes, including retraining employees on “recognizing and appropriately responding to suspicious emails and other threats.” In addition, the company is offering to cover the cost of identity theft protection and credit monitoring through Kroll for affected customers.