FBI investigates theft of 153M driver’s licenses - WSB-TV
Identity verification firm IDScan confirmed hackers accessed customer data on its cloud platform after more than 153 million US and Canadian driver's license scans appeared on the dark web. The FBI launched an investigation on September 1, the same day a platform called Nexus offered searchable access to the records. Nexus vanished from the internet following media reports on the leak. The breach exposes highly sensitive identity documents used for verification across North America.
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- ✓ IDScan confirmed hackers accessed customer data stored in its cloud platform.
- ✓ The FBI opened an investigation on September 1.
- ✓ A dark web platform called Nexus offered searchable access to more than 153 million scanned US and Canadian driver's licenses.
- ✓ The Nexus platform vanished after a journalist reported on the data.
What changed
IDScan officially confirmed that hackers accessed its cloud platform.
Live updates
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IDScan confirms breach of 153 million driver's license scans
Identity verification firm IDScan confirmed hackers accessed customer data on its cloud platform after more than 153 million US and Canadian driver's license scans appeared on the dark web. The FBI launched an investigation on September 1, the same day a platform called Nexus offered searchable access to the records. Nexus vanished from the internet following media reports on the leak. The breach exposes highly sensitive identity documents used for verification across North America.
Why it matters
The leaked data is linked to ID scanning services used at Hertz car rental counters. This breach allows criminals to acquire verified government identification on a massive scale. The incident creates a high risk of identity theft for millions of citizens.
What is confirmed
- IDScan confirmed hackers accessed customer data stored in its cloud platform.
- The FBI opened an investigation on September 1.
- A dark web platform called Nexus offered searchable access to more than 153 million scanned US and Canadian driver's licenses.
- The Nexus platform vanished after a journalist reported on the data.
What to watch next
- Details on the specific vulnerability used to access the IDScan cloud platform
- Official notification to the 153 million affected individuals
- FBI identification of the actors behind the Nexus platform
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (4)
- gizmodo.com — 153 Million Americans Are About to Find Out Their Driver’s License Is on the Dark Web
- www.yahoo.com — FBI investigates alleged theft of 153 million driver's license scans
- www.yahoo.com — Over 150m driver’s licenses posted on dark web after data breach
- www.bleepingcomputer.com — IDScan confirms breach tied to 153 million stolen driver’s licenses
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FBI Investigates Dark Web Sale of Driver's Licenses
Federal investigators are probing the dark web sale of up to 170 million identity documents tied to a breach at IDScan.net. Cybersecurity researcher Brian Krebs revealed that the leaked data stems from a service that scans IDs at Hertz car rental counters. The Nexus service advertised the records online before going offline following media attention. Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported on the black market operation, which has triggered widespread concerns over identity theft across the United States and Canada.
Why it matters
Handing physical identity cards to rental counters is a routine step for travelers that rarely prompts questions about long-term data storage. The exposure of government-issued identification documents across North America creates significant vulnerabilities for victims. The FBI investigation aims to trace the origins of the stolen records and identify the actors behind the Nexus black market operation.
What is confirmed
- The FBI is investigating the dark web sale of driver's license scans numbering between 153 million and 170 million documents.
- The breach is traced to IDScan.net and involves data collected at Hertz car rental counters.
Still unconfirmed
- Data is being leaked rapidly after car rental transactions.
What to watch next
- Official statements from IDScan.net or Hertz regarding the security compromise
- Further findings from the FBI investigation into the Nexus service
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (4)
- dailyhodl.com — FBI Investigates Dark Web Sale of 153,000,000 Stolen American Driver’s Licenses
- www.yahoo.com — FBI investigating alleged driver's license theft
- www.yahoo.com — 153 Million Driver's Licenses Leaked in a Breach Tied to the Company That Scans IDs at Hertz Counters
- www.usatoday.com — FBI probes potential data breach of millions of drivers' licenses
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FBI probes theft of 153 million driver's licenses
The FBI is investigating the alleged theft and dark web sale of more than 153 million driver's license records from the United States and Canada. Investigators are probing a service offering these IDs for sale, which has sparked widespread identity theft concerns. Some reports indicate the breach may include high-profile individuals, while other accounts suggest data is being leaked rapidly after car rental transactions. The scale of the exposure suggests a massive compromise of government-issued identification across North America.
Why it matters
Driver's licenses contain sensitive personal data used for identity verification across financial and legal systems. A breach of this magnitude increases the risk of fraudulent accounts and identity theft. The investigation seeks to determine the source of the leak and the total number of affected citizens.
What is confirmed
- The FBI is investigating the theft and sale of over 153 million driver's licenses.
- The breached data includes driver's licenses from the United States and Canada.
- The records are allegedly being sold via a service on the dark web.
Still unconfirmed
- Hackers claim to have obtained the driver's license of Hegseth.
- A car rental transaction resulted in a driver's license being put up for sale within hours.
What to watch next
- Identification of the specific entity or database that was breached
- FBI confirmation of the total number of compromised records
- Official statements from U.S. and Canadian transportation departments
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (6)
- NBC News — FBI investigates alleged breach of IDs after hackers claim Hegseth driver’s license
- Yahoo — FBI probes report of data breach exposing millions of drivers' licenses in US, Canada
- Ars Technica — I rented a car, and within hours, my driver’s license was for sale
- WSB-TV — FBI investigates theft of 153M driver’s licenses
- Krebs on Security — FBI Probes Service Selling 153M+ Drivers Licenses
- www.yahoo.com — FBI Investigates Alleged Sale Of 153 Million Driver’s License Records On Dark Web
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