The dimensions of the latest scandal in Germany regarding the data on citizens’ bank accounts that appeared on a CD offered on the illegal market are greater than previously estimated, writes the weekly “Wirtschaftswoche” in its online edition on Tuesday.
"We are at the beginning of uncovering the dimensions of the scandal and can say that we are currently certain that the illegal CD contains personal data of 21 million citizens, as well as bank account numbers," stated the public prosecutor’s office in Duesseldorf. The prosecutor’s office could not confirm earlier reports from the weekly "Wirtschaftswoche" that the CD circulating on the black market contains, in addition to personal data of citizens and bank account information, which is sufficient for a third party to conduct money transactions, data on the amount of money present in the bank accounts.
Following the news about citizens’ data being on the black market, consumer protection offices recommended checking bank account statements "at least once a week" to cancel unauthorized transfers of money to other accounts. German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, reacting to the latest scandal, called for stricter enforcement of existing laws on the protection of citizens’ personal data and announced that the German government would address the latest scandal this week. It is currently estimated that citizens’ private data leaked onto the market from several service call centers that, among others, provide services to telecommunications companies and cable network owners. (H)
