Just months after the Optus data breach, another large institution has been hacked – with the personal information of millions understood to have been stolen.
Latitude Financial Services is the latest company to have been hacked, with 7.9 million driver licences from Australia and New Zealand having been exposed.
The company says approximately 3.2 million of those licences were provided in the past 10 years, with an additional 53,000 passport numbers also stolen.
Latitude Financial is the biggest non-bank lender of consumer credit in Australia, and was previously known as GE Capital – one of the major suppliers of wholesale finance to car dealerships across the country until 2008, when the Global Financial Crisis took hold.
Latitude also provides buy now, pay later services for major retailers including Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi.
While Latitude says approximately 14 million records dating back to at least 2005 were stolen – which include customer names, addresses, telephone numbers, and dates of birth – it’s unclear at this stage just how many Australians have been exposed in the data breach.
The cyber attack was first reported a fortnight ago, but only now is the full extent of the hack becoming known.
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Latitude is writing to all current and former customers who have had their information taken, as well as applicants whose personal information was also compromised.
“We recognise that today’s announcement will be a distressing development for many of our customers and we apologise unreservedly,” the company said in a media statement.
If you’re affected by the Latitude data breach, you can get more information about how to respond below.
New South Wales
Transport NSW has advised that only those who have had both the driver licence number and the card number stolen will need to apply for a new licence.
This is due to increased security measures introduced in the state in September 2022, which require both a driver licence number and card number to be submitted in order to pass a Document Verification Service check – the identity check used by banks and other authorised organisations.
Those who have had both numbers compromised in the hack will be contacted by Latitude Financial.
A replacement driver licence can be applied for online by clicking here, or by visiting a Service NSW Centre.
Applying for a new licence attracts a $29 upfront fee, however Latitude Financial says it will reimburse costs for replacing an ID document.
Victoria
While the Victorian Government was proactive during the Optus data breach of September 2022, VicRoads says it is currently working to understand the extent of the Latitude data breach.
Victorian drivers who believe their driver licence has been compromised in the hack can either order a replacement online by clicking here, or by calling VicRoads on 13 11 71 or visiting a VicRoads Customer Service Centre found here.
Applying for a new licence attracts an upfront fee of $25.40, however Latitude Financial says it will reimburse costs for replacing an ID document.
Queensland
Queensland Transport says it is aware of the Latitude Financial Service data breach, and encourages those who have been contacted by Latitude to organise a replacement driver licence.
A new driver licence can be applied for online by clicking here, by visiting a transport and motoring customer service centre, at a participating QGAP office, or at some police stations found in rural or remote areas of the state.
Queensland Transport charges $82.10 for a replacement driver licence with the same expiry as before, however Latitude Financial says it will reimburse costs for replacing an ID document.
South Australia
The South Australia Government has announced it will waive the replacement fee for those affected by the Latitude Financial Services data breach.
Those contacted by Latitude will need to have a replacement driver licence issued by visiting a Service SA Centre, which you can find by clicking here.
While a new card is being manufactured and sent, the licence with its unique card identification number will be digitally available through mySAGOV online accounts and via the mSAGOV smartphone app.
Australian Capital Territory
Like those in New South Wales, ACT residents do not have to act unless Latitude Financial advises that both the driver licence number and the unique card number have been compromised in the cyber attack.
Canberrans who have had both their licence number and the unique card number stolen can apply for a replacement online by clicking here, by calling 13 22 81, or by visiting an Access Canberra Service Centre located in Woden, Belconnen, Gungahlin, and Tuggeranong.
Access Canberra charges $42.60 for the replacement of a driver licence, however Latitude Financial says it will reimburse costs for replacing an ID document.
Western Australia
Licences in Western Australia have also come with two numbers since September 2022: the driver licence number and the unique card number, which are required for those using identification services.
The Western Australian Department of Transport says only those contacted by Latitude Financial Services need to apply for a replacement driver licence.
A new card can be ordered online by clicking here, visiting a DVS centre, or by visiting a regional DoT office or agent.
Applying for a new licence attracts an upfront fee of $30.90, however Latitude Financial says it will reimburse costs for replacing an ID document.
Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government has waived the $29 fee for those needing a replacement driver licence due to the Latitude Financial Services data breach.
Those contacted by Latitude can seek a new driver licence by visiting a Service Tasmania Centre, found by clicking here.
Northern Territory
While the NT Government does not appear to have made a statement on the Latitude Financial Services data breach, it’s understood both a driver licence number and unique card number are found on a driver licence, reducing the risk to motorists.
Only those who have had both numbers stolen in the hack and who have been contacted by Latitude will require a replacement.
A replacement driver licence can be applied for in person at an Australia Post or MVR office – found by clicking here – or by calling 1300 654 628.
Applying for a new licence attracts an upfront fee of $22, however Latitude Financial says it will reimburse costs for replacing an ID document.
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