Oxford News

Extras

Photos

The Luxottica Group's computer system obtained payroll records of 59,419 former employees, officials said. Names, addresses and Social Security numbers were accessed from the Mason firm on Luxottica Lane. The FBI confirmed Wednesday, Dec. 3, that it has received the case. Click to enlarge

The breach of personnel files at a Mason eye wear retailer, a case which now involves the FBI, impacts former employees in all 50 states, according to investigators.

The hacker who breached the security of the Luxottica Group's computer system obtained payroll records of 59,419 former employees, said Hamilton Twp. Lt. Jeff Braley, who heads the Warren County Cyber Task Force. Names, addresses and Social Security numbers were accessed, he said.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Mike Brooks confirmed Wednesday, Dec. 3, his agency has received the case, but said he could not discuss it.

Braley, who Tuesday turned over the case to the FBI, said the breach included some former employees from Ohio, but couldn't cite specific areas.

The employees worked for retailer Things Remembered from 1998 through early 2005. The Luxottica Group, whose retail headquarters is at 4000 Luxottica Lane, sold the company in 2006.

In a routine security check in September, Cole National Group, Inc., a Luxottica company, discovered that payroll records of former employees had been electronically breached, officials said.

Luxottica spokeswoman Kathy Clark said the company reacted immediately.

"We deeply regret this incident and hope that law enforcement will be able to bring those involved in this crime to justice," she said. "The company sent notice to all individuals whose information was in the file and has offered free credit monitoring services. At this time, we have no evidence that the data has been misused and we have taken steps to further ensure the security of this file going forward. We have carefully reviewed the security of the file transfer server on which this file was located, and believe this was an isolated and unusual incident."

Braley said officials tracked the hack to an e-mail IP address of a Molly Burns in Glendale, Ariz. Braley said several of her computers were confiscated, but authorities do not yet know if Burns was involved.

There are 600 Things Remembered stores nationwide. Braley said he doesn't have any evidence the information has been illegally used yet.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.