ICBC data breach allegedly linked to arsons, shootings
The RCMP is investigating a former ICBC employee for her role in a string of arsons and drive-by shootings in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
The police force said that approximately 13 people with common links to the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) have been targeted in a series of arsons and shootings this year. While no one has been physically harmed, police are investigating.
The RCMP investigation revealed a link to an ICBC employee who worked at a New Westminster claims centre. The claims adjuster, a 15-year ICBC veteran “allegedly accessed personal information of 65 individuals, including the 13 identified victims,” said Chief Superintendent Janice Armstrong, Operations Officer for the Lower Mainland District Regional Police Service. “That employee, along with other individuals, is under continued police investigation.”
“ICBC has cooperated fully with the police investigators, assisting us in contacting and warning those whose information was compromised,” said C/Supt. Armstrong. “Additionally, police continue to pursue significant investigative avenues to determine if others could be at risk.”
Jon Schubert, President and CEO of ICBC said the insurance corporation is shocked.
“We are appalled that one of our employees inappropriately accessed the information of so many customers without any apparent business reason to do so,” said Schubert. “Our main concern is for the customers who have suffered as a result of this privacy breach.”
Police are not confirming what connection the adjuster had or has with the crime, but ICBC said after the leak of confidential information that led to the attacks was made aware, the employee was fired.
“The person in question has had their employment with ICBC terminated with cause, and no severance,” says Schubert. “We have conducted a thorough internal and an independent external review of our systems as a result of the privacy breach and have taken steps to better guard against this type of incident from happening again.”
ICBC says it will change the license plates of the 65 people whose information was accessed improperly.
The Justice Institute is a post-secondary school that specializes in public safety, justice and social services training. While none of the 13 attacks took place at any of the school’s campuses, the victims have been past and current students and employees.
