finsmart-news_admin 
Nearly a quarter of a million Americans are being warned that their personal and financial information may have been exposed after hackers breached a US-based financial services firm.
According to disclosures made to state regulators, the accounting and advisory firm SAX LLP reported that an unauthorized party gained access to parts of its network, potentially compromising sensitive data belonging to clients and individuals connected to those clients.
The firm says the incident affected approximately 228,876 individuals and may have exposed highly sensitive information, including names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and certain financial details.
While the full scope of the breach is still being assessed, regulators say the exposed data could create an elevated risk of identity theft and financial fraud for those impacted.
Notices sent to affected individuals indicate that the intrusion was discovered after unusual activity was detected within the firm’s systems.
According to filings with the Maine Attorney General’s office, SAX LLP launched an internal investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity specialists to determine how the breach occurred and what data may have been accessed or acquired.
The firm also says it has taken steps to secure its systems and prevent similar incidents in the future, though specific technical details have not been publicly disclosed.
Impacted individuals have been encouraged to remain vigilant for signs of identity misuse and to monitor financial accounts and credit reports closely as investigations continue.
