Evolve Bank and Trust Data Breach: What Happened and How to Protect Yourself

Introduction

On August 5, 2022, Evolve Bank and Trust announced that it had experienced a data breach affecting approximately 2,000 customers. According to the bank, unauthorized individuals gained access to customer names, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers.

What Happened?

The breach was discovered on July 26, 2022, when Evolve Bank and Trust detected suspicious activity on its network. An investigation revealed that an unauthorized third party had gained access to a vendor's system that was used to process customer information. The bank immediately took steps to contain the breach and notified affected customers.

Impact of the Breach

The data breach has potentially exposed the following customer information:

• Names
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• Social security numbers

What Evolve Bank and Trust Is Doing

Evolve Bank and Trust is taking the following steps to address the breach:

• Notifying affected customers by mail
• Offering free credit monitoring services
• Working with law enforcement to investigate the incident
• Enhancing its security measures to prevent future breaches

What Customers Can Do

Customers who have been affected by the breach should take the following steps:

• Monitor their credit reports for unauthorized activity
• Contact the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on their credit files
• Consider freezing their credit to prevent new accounts from being opened in their name

Tips for Protecting Yourself from Data Breaches

In addition to the steps above, customers can take the following measures to protect themselves from data breaches:

• Use strong passwords and change them regularly
• Be cautious about clicking on links or opening attachments in emails from unknown senders
• Keep software and operating systems up to date
• Use a firewall and anti-virus software
• Limit the amount of personal information shared online

How to Freeze Your Credit

To freeze your credit, contact the following credit bureaus:

• Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion: 1-888-909-8872

Conclusion

The Evolve Bank and Trust data breach is a reminder that data breaches can happen to any organization. It is important for customers to take steps to protect themselves from identity theft and fraud. By following the tips in this article, you can help to keep your personal information safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many customers were affected by the breach?

Approximately 2,000 customers were affected by the breach.

What information was exposed in the breach?

The information exposed in the breach includes names, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers.

What is Evolve Bank and Trust doing to address the breach?

Evolve Bank and Trust is notifying affected customers, offering free credit monitoring services, working with law enforcement to investigate the incident, and enhancing its security measures.

What can customers do to protect themselves from identity theft and fraud?

Customers can monitor their credit reports, contact the major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on their credit files, consider freezing their credit, use strong passwords, be cautious about clicking on links or opening attachments in emails from unknown senders, keep software and operating systems up to date, use a firewall and anti-virus software, and limit the amount of personal information shared online.

Resources

• Evolve Bank and Trust Data Breach Notification
• Identity Theft and Fraud Prevention
• How to Freeze Your Credit

Table 1: Chronology of Events

Table 2: Impacted Customer Information

Table 3: Recommended Protective Measures