Posted On May 6, 2023 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
May 6 – After discovering that a third party had gained access to the company’s computer network and viewed sensitive customer data, The Metropolitan Opera (the Met) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Maine on May 3, 2023. According to a corporate filing, a third party gained access to the personal details of some of its customers, including their names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, payment card information, tax ID information, and bank account details. The Met began notifying anyone whose personal information was compromised shortly after discovering the intrusion.
It is crucial that you know what is at stake if you get a data breach notification. Data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are looking into the Metropolitan Opera hack on behalf of those whose data was compromised. Anyone who has been harmed by this breach and would like to discuss their concerns about identity theft, steps they may take to protect themselves, and potential legal avenues for seeking compensation from Metropolitan Opera are welcome to schedule a free consultation as part of our investigation.
The Metropolitan Opera, which has been performing in New York City since 1883, typically presents about 27 operas per season (from September to May). Since opening in 1883, the Metropolitan Opera has grown to employ more than 918 people, earn an estimated $200 million annually, and provide performances Monday through Saturday evenings and on Saturday afternoons.
The Met reported suspicious activity on December 6, 2022, and filed a report with the Maine Attorney General’s office. The Met immediately shut down its networks and called in outside data security experts to determine what had happened.
According to The Met’s findings, an unidentified and unauthorized third party accessed the company’s computer network between September 30, 2022 and December 6, 2022. The Met also found that the intruder accessed files that may have held consumers’ private information.
After learning that private customer information had fallen into the wrong hands, The Metropolitan Opera conducted a thorough investigation of the stolen files to identify the affected customers and the specific details of the data breach. Your name, SSN, driver’s license number, credit card information, tax ID, and bank account details may have been compromised, albeit the specific information compromised will vary from person to person.
Data breach letters were sent out by The Metropolitan Opera on May 3, 2023, to everyone whose data was exposed.
Those responsible for a data breach can be held accountable, and that includes corporations, nonprofits, and even government entities. Millions of Americans fall victim to identity theft or other scams every year as a direct result of data breaches. While identity theft can have far-reaching consequences, victims typically spend hundreds of hours trying to put the pieces back together. This number, though, can skyrocket in more complicated situations.
No company ever plans for a data breach to occur, and no company ever bears full responsibility for a breach that does occur. Most data breaches occur when hackers aim their attacks at a specific organization. These cybercriminals use complex hoaxes and tactics to get access. Although no company is completely immune to data breaches, organizations that stay abreast of data privacy concerns and invest in solid data security measures may prevent the vast majority of them and rapidly catch the few that go through.
A data breach can be caused or exacerbated by a company’s negligence in a number different ways. For instance, a firm may be held responsible for a data breach if an employee were to carelessly store sensitive information. The organization may also be held responsible if an employee reacts to a phishing email by providing the attackers with sensitive information or login credentials.
Of course, these are only a few examples of the ways in which a company’s negligence may have contributed to a data breach. It can be extremely challenging, if not impossible, for victims of a data breach to identify what caused the breach, which can make it difficult to determine whether or not they have a claim. And while it’s too soon to say whether or not Metropolitan Opera was negligent in the lead-up to the leak, lawyers who specialize in data breaches are looking into the incident to see what legal options victims may have.
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 The Metropolitan Opera 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.
Below is a portion of the letter sent to affected individuals:
Dear [Redacted],
The Metropolitan Opera (“the Met”) writes to inform you of a recent event that may impact the privacy of some of your information. We are not aware of any misuse of your information, but we are providing you with this letter as a precaution, to inform you of the event, our response, and steps you may take to help protect your information, should you feel it is necessary to do so.
What Happened? On December 6, 2022, the Met identified suspicious activity related to its computer systems. We immediately took steps to secure our network and brought in a team of information technology specialists to help the Met get its systems back up and running and to determine the nature and scope of the suspicious activity. Through an investigation conducted by third party forensic specialists, we learned that an unknown actor gained access to our systems between September 30, 2022 and December 6, 2022 and accessed or took certain information from those systems. We have completed a review of the contents of those files to determine what information was contained therein and to whom it related. We are notifying you because your information was contained in the potentially impacted files.
What Information Was Involved? The information contained within the files concerned included your [Redacted]
What We Are Doing. The confidentiality, privacy, and security of information within our care is among the Met’s highest priorities. Upon learning of the event, we took immediate steps to secure our environment and investigate the activity. We commenced an investigation that included working with an outside team of specialists to understand the nature and scope of the event. We also notified federal law enforcement about this event and have cooperated with their investigation. As part of our ongoing commitment to the security of information, we are also reviewing and further strengthening our systems setup, policies and procedures. Although we do not have any evidence of identity theft or fraud as a result of this incident, we are offering complimentary Identity Monitoring services through Kroll for 12 months as an added precaution. If you wish to avail yourself of these services, you will need to activate using the instruction enclosed with this letter, as we are unable to activate them on your behalf. Please note that the monitoring service may identify results linked to other events which have no connection whatsoever with this incident.
What You Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud and to review your account statements and monitor your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also encourage you to review the enclosed Steps You Can Take to Help Protect Personal Information, which contains information on what you can do to safeguard against possible misuse of your information. You may also activate the complimentary identity monitoring services we are offering to you.
For More Information. If you have additional questions, you may call our dedicated assistance line at (866) 347-9208, available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (excluding U.S. holidays). You may also write to the Metropolitan Opera at 30 Lincoln Center, New York, NY 10023.
