13 Montanans have personal info stolen from Merlin Information Services of Kalispell

Thirteen Montanans are among about 9,000 people whose personal information was taken from the database of a business that helps locate people and run background checks, a company official said.

The data was limited to names, addresses and Social Security numbers, said Keith Brown, CEO of Merlin Information Services http://www.merlindata.com/

The company has notified the people affected, offered any assistance needed to resolve any problems that might arise and took out $50,000 identity theft insurance policies for each person.

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/05/13/build/state/50-personal-info-stolen.inc

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Montanans among victims in database fraud

By MICHAEL JAMISON of the Missoulian

An imposter has tapped into a Kalispell investigative firm’s databases, pulling up names, addresses and Social Security numbers for nearly 9,000 people nationwide.

"With that information, you could open fraudulent credit card accounts," said Jordonna Dores, owner and vice president of Merlin Information Services.

The business, which has operated from Kalispell since 1994, helps clients run background checks on people nationwide, tracking not only individuals but also their assets. Customers, Dores said, often include law enforcement, collection agencies, private investigators and insurance companies.

Merlin’s computer systems are blocked with various firewalls and safeguards, barriers Dores said were not breached. Instead, she said, the "imposter posed as a customer" – a professional investment adviser, to be exact – then downloaded information on 8,998 people before the company realized what was happening.

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/05/14/news/mtregional/news05.txt