Equifax Suffered a Hack Almost Five Months Earlier Than the Date It Disclosed

New timeline could have implications for executive stock sales

The company is the subject of multiple investigations

Equifax Inc. learned about a major breach of its computer systems in March -- almost five months before the date it has publicly disclosed, according to three people familiar with the situation.

In a statement, the company said the March breach was not related to the hack that exposed the personal and financial data on 143 million U.S. consumers, but one of the people said the breaches involve the same intruders. Either way, the revelation that the 118-year-old credit-reporting agency suffered two major incidents in the span of a few months adds to a mounting crisis at the company, which is the subject of multiple investigations and announced the retirement of two of its top security executives on Friday. read more »

 

 

Airbus launches internal corruption investigation

Already facing bribery allegations, group looks into transactions that led to unexplained €16m payment

Airbus, Europe’s largest aerospace multinational, has launched an internal investigation into possible corruption after the Guardian uncovered a series of questionable financial transactions resulting in an unexplained payment.

Hundreds of pages of leaked bank records, internal memos and financial statements reveal that two companies secretly controlled by the aviation giant engaged in transactions involving €19m (£16.7m), a large part of which was then routed to a mysterious company via a tax haven.

Approached for an explanation, Airbus was unable to say who had received the money, or why its control of the two companies was concealed. read more »

Brexit Is Hurting the Fight Against Corruption

I think David Cameron was the worst prime minister Britain has had in the 40 years I’ve been alive, but his replacement, Theresa May, is competing hard for the title. She has jettisoned the strategic sense that was Mr. Cameron’s only worthwhile talent, and has scrapped his best initiative: fighting international corruption and tax evasion with financial transparency.

Files from HSBC leaked in 2015 showed how years earlier Swiss bankers had conspired with wealthy Westerners to help them dodge taxes. Last year, the Panama Papers revealed the use of shell companies to help corrupt officials hide their money.

This month, journalists in a dozen countries uncovered how officials in Azerbaijan had laundered billions of dollars through companies in Britain with accounts at a Danish bank in Estonia, for the benefit of people in Germany, France, Iran, Kazakhstan, Britain and elsewhere. Similar scams have involved officials throughout the world, from Chile to China. read more »

Dental office chain to repay $1.375 million for fraudulent claims

A complaint of improper billing practices brought forward by a whistleblower in a Fall River dentist office has been resolved, attorneys recently announced.

The U.S. Attorney and the Massachusetts Attorney General resolved the case, requiring Dental Dreams, LLC — a chain of dental offices that operate in Massachusetts and ten other states — to repay the government $1.375 million, attorneys said.

As the whistleblower in the case, Ashley Sampaio, a former office manager in Dental Dreams’ office in Fall River, will receive a portion of the settlement funds. read more »