Scam of the day – December 9, 2025 – 700Credit Ransomware Attack: 8 Million Identities at Risk

by | Dec 8, 2025 | Scam of the day

It is my unfortunate duty to report to you another major data breach.  This time the company is 700Credit which is a major credit reporting and identity verification company used by the automobile industry for automobile financing applications.  Data breaches have become increasingly common with 1,732 reported data breaches in just the first six months of this year which is an 11% increase over 2024 according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. It appears that 700Credit was the victim of a ransomware attack and when negotiations between the hackers and 700Credit faltered, the hackers offered the stolen information on the dark web to other criminals.  The compromised information included consumers’ names, addresses and Social Security numbers of as many as 8 million people who had submitted automobile financing applications between May and October of 2025.

A class action claiming negligent security practices has already been filed in the federal court for Eastern Michigan.  Meanwhile 700 Credit is notifying affected customers and offering free credit monitoring.  They have also set up a dedicated phone line to answer questions about the data breach.  The number is 866-273-0345.

TIPS

As for the victims of this data breach, the first thing they should do is freeze their credit if they have not already done so.  Freezing your credit is actually something everyone should do.  It is free and easy to do.  In addition, it protects you from someone using your identity to obtain loans or make large purchases even if they have your Social Security number.  If you have not already done so, put a credit freeze on your credit reports at each of the major credit reporting agencies.  Here are links to each of them with instructions about how to get a credit freeze:

Everyone also should monitor their credit reports regularly for indications of identity theft.  The three major credit reporting agencies now provide free weekly access to your credit reports so you can monitor your credit reports easily on your own.  Here is the only link to use to get your free credit reports.https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action
Some scammers have websites that appear to offer “free” credit reports, but if you read the fine print, you often may find that you have signed up for unnecessary services.
Finally, be wary of anyone who calls you asking for personal information in regard to these data breaches as that is a favorite tactic of the hackers to lure you into providing personal information that can lead to your becoming a victim of identity theft.  Scammers often pose as the breached company and contact victims of the data breach to convince them to provide personal information.
If you have questions about the data breach, you can call 700Credit at 866-273-0345.

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