250k X-Factor Contestants’ Info Stolen
Yet another large-scale personal information heist came to light today with news that the information of entrants to Simon Cowell’s star-seeking program, X-Factor, were stolen. About 250,000 U.S. residents are expected to be affected by the attack, which is currently under investigation by the FBI.
Thankfully for that quater-million people, the stolen information contained no financial or password information. However, the records could have include an entrant’s name, date of birth, gender, zip code, phone number, and email address. Identity theft is a risk, but the FOX network, which carries X-Factor in the U.S., is far more concerned that the scammers could pose as FOX officials and use the information to dupe contestants into giving out valuable personal information. So, to those that recently took a stab at fame, be extra wary of suspicious emails.
