Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is currently investigating the Dallas, Texas-based National Math + Science Initiative (“NMSI”) for failing to safeguard sensitive student information in a data breach that occurred in October of 2021. The data breach occurred when files and email accounts on NMSI’s IT network were infected with a virus, likely as the result of cybercriminals infiltrating the institute’s systems with ransomware. An investigation that concluded in February of 2022 determined that some of the information viewed by the unauthorized actor included the personal identifying information of individuals within the NMSI systems. Examples of the types of data exposed in the leak include names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. Many of these individuals are likely minor children, who NMSI works with to improve schools’ math and science curriculums.
While NMSI claims that it has no evidence that the information accessed on its systems has been misused, cybercriminals commonly use information obtained from data breaches to commit a number of crimes. For example, in previous data breaches where files were removed from a company’s website, this data has been used in fraudulent requests for credit services, as well as banking and medical procedures without permission. Individuals in previous breaches have had to pay out of pocket for credit monitoring or for new fraudulent charges. Some NMSI students may have noticed suspicious credit or banking activity, disrupted medical care, or medical appointments fraudulently created, canceled, and/or billed in their name.
Have you received a data breach notification letter from the National Math and Science Initiative in the past year?
If so, we would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call at (202) 470-3520.
The lawyers at Migliaccio & Rathod LLP have years of experience in class action litigation against large corporations, including in cases involving data breaches. More information about our current cases and investigations is available on our blog.