700Credit data breach exposes SSNs of 5.8M consumers

Data breaches tied to financial services companies are no longer rare, but they still hit harder when Social Security numbers are involved. In the latest incident, U.S.-based fintech company 700Credit has confirmed that the personal data of more than 5.8 million people was exposed. The breach did not originate from a direct compromise of 700Credit’s internal network, which makes it more concerning. It began with a third-party integration partner and quietly snowballed over several months before it was detected. By the time the issue was contained, hackers had managed to steal a significant amount of sensitive consumer data.

What went wrong at 700Credit

700Credit says the breach traces back to July, when a threat actor compromised one of its third-party integration partners, as reported by Bleeping Computer. During that intrusion, the attacker discovered an exposed API that could be used to access customer information linked to 700Credit’s dealership clients. The integration partner failed to inform 700Credit about the compromise, allowing the access to continue unnoticed.

Suspicious activity was only detected on October 25, when 700Credit flagged unusual behavior on its systems and launched an internal investigation. The company says it brought in third-party computer forensic specialists to assess the scope of the incident and determine what data had been affected.

According to the company’s findings, certain records within its web application were copied without authorization. These records are related to customers of auto dealerships that use 700Credit’s services. Managing Director Ken Hill later confirmed that roughly 20 percent of the consumer data accessible through the affected system was stolen between May and October.

What data was exposed and why it matters

While 700Credit has not published an exhaustive list of every data field involved, the company has confirmed that highly sensitive personal information was exposed. This includes Social Security numbers, which significantly raises the risk of identity theft and financial fraud. When SSNs are compromised, the impact is long-term. You cannot simply change them like a password.

The company has published a dedicated page on its website outlining the breach and the types of information impacted. As part of its response, 700Credit is offering affected individuals 12 months of free identity protection and credit monitoring through TransUnion. You have a 90-day window to enroll in this service after receiving the notification.

Notably, audio streaming platform SoundCloud and adult video sharing platform Pornhub also suffered data breaches tied to third-party vendors. There is no indication that the same vendor was involved in all three incidents, but the cases highlight how risky third-party access can be when vendors handle sensitive consumer data.

CyberGuy reached out to 700Credit for comment, but did not receive a response before publication.

6 steps you can take to stay safe after a data breach

When breaches like this happen, the damage is not always immediate. Your data can sit in underground markets for months before it is abused. That is why it helps to lock things down early. Here are six practical steps you can take.

1) Use a reliable antivirus

A good antivirus helps block malicious downloads, phishing links, and spyware that often follow large data leaks. Attackers know your details are exposed and may try to target you directly with malware-based scams.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

2) Switch to a password manager

If you are still reusing passwords, this is the time to stop. A password manager helps you generate strong, unique passwords for every service and keeps them stored securely. If one site is breached, the rest of your accounts stay protected.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 pick, NordPass, includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

3) Enable two-factor authentication everywhere

Turn on 2FA for email, banking, social media, and cloud accounts. Even if someone has your password, they cannot log in without the second factor. App-based authenticators are more secure than SMS, where possible.

4) Sign up for identity theft and credit monitoring

Monitoring services alert you when new accounts, loans, or credit checks appear in your name. Take advantage of the free identity protection being offered, which can monitor sensitive details like your Social Security number, phone number, and email address and alert you if that information appears on the dark web or is used to open a new account.

Identity theft protection companies can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to help prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.

5) Consider a personal data removal service

Your phone number, address, and other details are often already scattered across data broker sites. Data removal services help reduce your digital footprint, making it harder for attackers to profile and target you after a breach.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Is your personal information exposed online?

Run a free scan to see if your personal info is compromised. Results arrive by email in about an hour.

6) Freeze your credit if SSNs are exposed

If your Social Security number is involved, a credit freeze is one of the strongest defenses. It prevents new credit accounts from being opened without your approval and can be lifted temporarily when needed.

Related Links:

• Data breach exposes 400K bank customers’ info
• Password manager fined after major data breach
• Petco confirms major data breach involving customer data

Kurt’s key takeaway

Third-party APIs and integrations are essential for modern digital services, but they also expand the attack surface. When third-party partners fail to disclose breaches quickly, the downstream impact can be massive, as this case shows. If you receive a notification from 700Credit, take it seriously. Enroll in the credit monitoring service, review your credit reports, and consider locking them down. Even if no fraud has occurred yet, breaches involving SSNs often lead to delayed abuse months or even years later.

Should companies be held accountable when a third-party vendor exposes customer information? Let us know in the comments below.

FOR MORE OF MY TECH TIPS & SECURITY ALERTS, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT NEWSLETTER HERE

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. CyberGuy.com articles and content may contain affiliate links that earn a commission when purchases are made.