PayrollOrg Data Breach Exposes Social Security Numbers

American Payroll Institute Inc. (API), known as PayrollOrg, recently disclosed a data breach that exposed sensitive personal information of its consumers. According to a report filed with the Texas Attorney General's office on January 13, 2025, the breach impacted 268 individuals in Texas alone.

The breach compromised highly sensitive data, including:

• Name of individual
• Address
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s license number
• Government-issued ID number (e.g., passport, state ID card)
• Financial information (e.g., account number, credit or debit card number)
• Date of birth

While specific details about how the breach occurred have not been disclosed, the extent of the exposed data suggests a significant security lapse, potentially involving unauthorized access to PayrollOrg's systems.

For more information about the disclosure, you can visit the Texas Attorney General's data breach report page.

PayrollOrg's response

PayrollOrg has notified affected individuals via U.S. mail, as required by law. The organization has not yet publicly disclosed additional measures it is taking to address the breach or prevent future incidents. However, it is standard practice for companies in such situations to investigate the breach, improve security protocols, and offer support to affected individuals, such as credit monitoring services. If you are one of the individuals impacted, you should have received a notification letter with further details.

Steps to protect yourself if you are affected

If you believe you may have been affected by this data breach, it is crucial to take immediate steps to protect your identity and financial information. Given the sensitivity of the data exposed, including Social Security numbers and financial details, follow these steps:

1. Monitor your financial accounts: Regularly review your bank, credit card, and investment account statements for unauthorized transactions.
2. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze: Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit file. You may also consider freezing your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.
3. Obtain your free credit report: Visit Annual Credit Report to request a free copy of your credit report and check for any suspicious activity.
4. Enroll in credit monitoring services: If API offers free credit monitoring as part of its response, take advantage of it. Otherwise, consider enrolling in a reputable service independently.
5. Be cautious of phishing scams: Be wary of unsolicited emails or phone calls requesting personal information. Scammers may attempt to exploit the breach by impersonating legitimate entities.
6. Report identity theft: If you suspect your identity has been stolen, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.

Taking these proactive steps can help minimize the risk of financial loss or identity theft.