Biggs Cardosa Data Breach Exposes Sensitive Info

What Happened?

On March 20, 2024, Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. detected suspicious activity within its network environment. This discovery prompted an immediate investigation with the aid of forensic cybersecurity and data privacy specialists. The investigation revealed that an unauthorized third party had potentially accessed and acquired personal information from the network.

Information Exposed

The data breach potentially exposed sensitive personal information including:

• Name
• Social security number
• Financial account information
• Date of birth (in some cases)

Biggs Cardosa Associates' Response

Upon discovering the breach, Biggs Cardosa Associates took swift action to secure its network and mitigate any potential damage. The company disabled all affected accounts and collaborated with third-party security experts to reinforce the security of their systems. Additionally, Biggs Cardosa has begun notifying affected individuals and is offering complimentary credit monitoring services through Cyberscout, a TransUnion company specializing in fraud assistance and remediation services. These services include alerts for changes in credit files, proactive fraud assistance, and a single bureau credit report, score, and monitoring for 12 months.

Steps to Take if You Are Affected

If you believe your data may have been compromised in this breach, it is crucial to remain vigilant and take the following steps to protect your identity and financial information:

1. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly review your bank, credit card, and other financial statements for any unauthorized transactions.
2. Check Your Credit Reports: Obtain a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.
3. Consider a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze: Place a fraud alert on your credit reports to make it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name. Alternatively, a credit freeze will prevent creditors from accessing your credit report entirely. Contact each of the three major credit bureaus to set this up:
1. Equifax
2. Experian
3. TransUnion

1. Report Suspicious Activity: If you detect any suspicious activity, immediately report it to the relevant financial institutions and consider filing a report with local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.

About Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc.

Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. is a prominent civil engineering firm based in California, specializing in the design, seismic retrofit, modification, and rehabilitation of bridges, transportation structures, buildings, and hydraulic facilities. With over 30 years of experience, the firm is staffed by more than 125 professional and technical personnel, including over 50 registered civil and structural engineers.

For detailed information regarding the breach and consumer notice, please refer to the official disclosure on the Massachusetts Attorney General's website and the California Attorney General's website.