L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Targeted by Cyber Criminals

The Gay & Lesbian Center Information System in Los Angeles was hacked, leaving clients` personal and financial information vulnerable to cyber thieves, according to a press release.

Some 59,000 English and Spanish speakers had their names, contact information, credit cards details, social security numbers and birthdates exposed to identity thieves during a two-month “sophisticated cyber-attack” in September and November 2013.

After an employee from the Center`s IT team spotted the malware, the Center started notifying potentially affected clients and provided a toll-free number for customer’s questions. They have contacted Experian, a credit monitoring company, to offer its services to affected customers.

“The Center takes the privacy of our clients very seriously,” said Center CEO, Lorri L. Jean. “After learning of this attack, we took immediate steps to further safeguard the information currently on our servers and, though no organization can ever be assured that its data is 100 percent protected, we are working with data security and technology experts to guard against future attacks.”

The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center is a clinic serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Los Angeles.