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Key Points:
- An Oakland man says multiple fraudulent accounts have been opened in his name, including a house purchase, following the city’s ransomware attack.
- The man’s credit report shows credit cards that should have been closed are now open with balances of $17,000 and $30,000.
An Oakland man has spoken out about the fraudulent accounts that have been opened in his name since the city’s ransomware attack. Dedrick Warmack discovered that multiple accounts, including credit cards and a house purchase, had been made using his personal information. His credit score has dropped significantly and he has received bills for purchases he did not make. Warmack is not alone in his experience, as dozens of other victims have also reported fraudulent activity following the attack. The city of Oakland has faced criticism for not notifying victims that their information had been leaked onto the dark web. The notification process was supposedly completed several months ago, but affected residents say they still have not been informed. The city had committed to spending an additional $10 million to upgrade cyber security protections, but only 30% of that goal has been spent so far. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the sufficiency of the city’s cyber insurance policy, with experts saying it’s not designed to meet the needs of a ransomware attack. Victims like Warmack are now calling into question the ability of the city to protect their personal information.
