Posted On May 5, 2023 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
May 5 – Berlin Packaging discovered on April 28, 2023 that sensitive human resources data housed on the firm’s computer network had been breached in a recent hack, prompting the company to submit a notification of data breach with the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. According to the company’s report, the event led to the exposure of consumers’ personal information, including names, addresses, financial account information, and Social Security numbers. Berlin Packaging confirmed that consumer data was compromised and immediately began notifying those whose information was compromised via letter.
Any recipient of a data breach notification should be well aware of the seriousness of the situation. Data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating the Berlin Packaging attack on behalf of those individuals whose data may have been exposed. As part of our investigation, we are providing free consultations to anybody affected by the breach who is concerned about their identity being stolen and wants to learn more about their options for protecting themselves and whether they can pursue a lawsuit against Berlin Packaging.
Although Berlin Packaging serves various industries, the food and beverage, household care, coatings, personal care, industrial, and pharmaceutical sectors make up the bulk of the company’s clientele. Berlin Packaging is an international packaging and distribution company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with more than 130 regional sales offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Berlin Packaging began operations in 1988, and today it employs over 2,200 people and has annual revenue of over $2.5 billion.
All of what is known about this company comes straight from a document they filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. However, there is little detail about the breach in Berlin Packaging’s filing, and the company has not yet made an online announcement about it.
After learning that private consumer information had fallen into the wrong hands, Berlin Packaging started combing through the affected files to figure out what had been leaked and from whom. Personal details such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and encrypted passwords may have been compromised, though the information may vary by individual.
Data breach letters were sent out by Berlin Packaging on April 28, 2023, to everyone whose personal information was exposed in the incident. The message informs recipients that they may contact a special helpline for further information about the event.
In 2022, data breaches affected almost 420 million individuals. For any calendar year, that is a record. Furthermore, early predictions for 2023 do not look promising for a decline in breaches.
Although most people have heard of a data breach, few are aware of how much identity theft can disrupt people’s lives. But given the frequency of data breaches, it is essential that all consumers understand what they can do to protect themselves in the event that they, too, become a victim of one.
Identity theft and the sale of stolen personal information on the dark web are two of the many possible outcomes of a data breach. Although consumers have little control over data breaches, they can take steps to protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.
The steps below should be taken if a data breach is discovered, but are not exhaustive. If a hacker gained access to personal information such as your Social Security number or bank account details, you may wish to take further precautions.
In the event of a data breach at a company, you will get a letter detailing the situation. These letters include what happened, what may have caused it, what the firm has done to prevent such incidents in the future, and whether or not any additional victims have reported fraud or identity theft. To determine if and what information was compromised, one must first carefully read the data breach notification.
Place a Fraud Alert on your credit report and freeze it. Credit monitoring alerts you to any suspicious activity on your credit report and is offered by many companies that have suffered a data breach. Credit monitoring services often cost between $20 and $40 per month. However, in many instances, businesses will provide victims of a data breach with free credit monitoring for a year or two. Berlin Packaging provides free credit monitoring for 24 months to those who were affected. By enrolling in a credit monitoring service, you may easily monitor your credit report. In the event of a data breach, you are still able to sue the company for negligence if you take advantage of its free credit monitoring service.
Passwords for any and all accounts that you use online should be changed immediately following a data breach. While it’s tempting to change the passwords for only the affected accounts, hackers who gain access to your social media or online store accounts may be able to access even more of your personal information.
Free credit freezes and fraud warnings are offered by all three major credit reporting companies. By activating a fraud alert, you may notify the companies who pull your credit that you believe your information is being used illegally. A credit freeze effectively prevents anyone from accessing your credit record without your knowledge and consent. The Identity Theft Resource Center has repeatedly emphasized that placing a credit freeze on your account is the best way to protect yourself from identity theft in the wake of a data breach.
Hackers usually act quickly to capitalize on stolen information to stop their victims from canceling their accounts. However, depending on the nature of the breach, hackers may need additional details in order to carry out their malicious schemes. Sometimes it might take weeks or months for hackers to be able to exploit stolen information. Most consumers have let their defenses down by this point, making them an ideal target for cybercriminals. As a result, throughout the next several months after the attack, you should monitor your accounts.
The consumer privacy lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. help customers affected by data and security breaches pursue legal solutions by offering free consultations. By explaining your rights in clear, concise terms, we help you make an informed decision about your next steps. If you are a victim of the Berlin Packaging data breach, Console & Associates, P.C. will investigate at no charge to you and offer advice on how to proceed. If you decide to pursue a case, rest assured that we don’t get paid unless you do. If your claim is successful, legal fees are either paid out of the funds recovered or by the defendant. If your claim is not successful, you pay nothing.
To schedule your free consultation, just call (866) 778-5500 today or fill out our secure contact form.
