Laufer Group International

Laufer Group International, headquartered in the United States, is an organization that experienced a significant data security incident in February 2018. The event involved an email spoofing attack where an attacker impersonated the company's chief executive officer to fraudulently request sensitive tax documents. This incident targeted the organization's human resources and payroll functions, as the compromised data consisted of W-2 forms for approximately 240 current and former employees. The information accessed included full names, residential addresses, Social Security numbers, detailed wage information, and federal tax withholding details, representing a substantial breach of personal and financial privacy for the affected individuals. The organization discovered the unauthorized access on the same day the fraudulent request was made, indicating a degree of internal monitoring or procedural control that facilitated rapid detection. Notably, the breach did not result in the compromise of banking information, dates of birth, driver's license numbers, or health records, which limited the scope of potential financial and identity theft risks for the victims.

Following the discovery, Laufer Group International initiated a coordinated response that included notifying all impacted individuals and engaging with multiple external authorities. The organization reported the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and relevant state tax agencies, demonstrating an understanding of regulatory obligations following a data breach involving tax information. To mitigate potential harm to affected employees and former staff, the company offered complimentary identity theft protection services, a common remediation step for breaches involving Social Security numbers. The documented response suggests the organization has established protocols for incident management and communication with both individuals and government bodies. The specific nature of the targeted data—W-2 forms—indicates the organization processes employee payroll and tax documentation internally or through a closely managed service, a standard function for any employer but one that carries significant data security responsibilities. The public record of this breach, maintained by the New Hampshire Department of Justice, provides the primary documented insight into the organization's operational context and its experience with a cyber-enabled fraud attempt.