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Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved final orders settling charges against three credit report resellers, SettlementOne Credit Corporation; ACRAnet, Inc.; and Fajilan and Associates, Inc., also doing business as Statewide Credit Services. The FTC alleged the companies did not take reasonable information security steps to protect consumers’ data, allowing hackers to access more than 1,800 credit reports without authorization. The FTC’s orders settling the charges require the companies to strengthen their data security procedures and submit to audits for 20 years.

The Commission vote approving the final order, and letters to members of the public who commented on them, in each matter was 5-0. The orders can be found on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. Public comments on the proposed orders can be found here, here, and here. (FTC File Nos. 082-3208, 092-3088, and 092-3089; the staff contact is Katherine White, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2878; see press release dated February 3, 2011.)

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(FYI 35.2011.wpd)