Express Scripts announced two weeks ago that extortionists had contacted them and threatened to release personal and medical information on their clients if they failed to meet the criminals’ demands. Express Scripts contacted the FBI instead, and refused to cave to the extortionists’ demands.
Well, the story has taken more than one interesting turn since that initial announcement.
The extortionists–faced with Express Scripts’ staunch refusal to pay up—have apparently had to come up with a B-plan. Express Scripts announced last week that some of its clients—government agencies, unions, and employers—had received letters similar to the one sent to Express Scripts in October. The letters demand the companies’ pay up, or the extortionists say they’ll release the personal and medical information of their members.
Express Scripts announced at the same time that they have established a $1 million reward for anyone providing information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the criminals responsible for stealing the members’ data and issuing the ransom demands.
At the time of their original statement, officials with Express Scripts said they received comprehensive information on 75 of their members along with the demand for ransom. At the time they said they didn’t know how the information had been obtained.
“We have been conducting a thorough investigation since we received this threat and we are taking it very seriously,” said George Paz, chairman and chief executive officer. “Express Scripts is committed to the privacy and security of our members’ personal information, so a threat like this against our members is outrageous.”
Visit LifeLock.com to learn more about their identity theft. Enroll using the Life Lock promotional code Defense for the best prices available.
Tags: Data breach, Express Scripts, extortion, identity theft protection, LifeLock promotional code Defense, ransom demand
“Express Scripts is committed to the privacy and security of our members’ personal information, so a threat like this against our members is outrageous.”
If they’re so damned committed to their members privacy, how did they let this happen!
I’m so sick of hearing about all the ways I could lose my identity!