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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/590991.html">http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/590991.html</A></FONT></DIV>
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<P>Adding to a growing list of companies suffering data breaches, LendingTree
notified mortgage customers Monday that some of their personal information may
have been inappropriately accessed.</P>
<P>In a letter, the Charlotte-based company said that outside loan companies may
have accessed the information, including Social Security numbers, between
October 2006 and early 2008 and used it to market their own mortgages to
LendingTree customers.</P>
<P>LendingTree would not say Monday when it learned of the incident or how many
people were potentially affected. It sent e-mails to alert customers it believes
may be at risk of having their information accessed.</P>
<P>The company said it does not believe the disclosure led to identity theft or
fraudulent financial activity, but recommended customers check their credit
reports for suspicious activity.</P>
<P>[..]</P>
<P>According to a Q&A sent to customers, "several former employees" may have
shared confidential passwords with "a handful" of lenders that were not approved
by the company.</P>
<P>[...]</P>
<P>The company has since enhanced its security system and also filed a civil
fraud lawsuit Monday in Orange County, Calif., in connection with the incident,
according to public records. The suit names three California-based mortgage
lenders, eight individuals and two other businesses as co-defendants.</P>
<P>[...]</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P>Michael Hill <BR>Certified Identity Theft Risk Management
Specialist<BR>404-216-3751<BR> </P>
<P>"If You Think You're Not At Risk, Think
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