Factual Data Breach
Status: Confirmed
Breach Intelligence Summary
Entity: Factual · Actor: Unknown · Source: Have I Been Pwned / ObscureIQ intelligence
Attack: Data Exfiltration via Under investigation
Timeline: Breach (Mar, 2017) · Reported (Dec, 2019) · Leak (12/24/19)
Exposure: 2.5M+ records · Email, Employers, Phone numbers, Physical addresses
Status: Confirmed · Risk: Moderate (Phishing / SIM swap)
Summary
In March 2017, a file containing 8M rows of data allegedly sourced from data aggregator Factual was compiled and later exchanged on the premise it was a “breach”. The data contained 2.5M unique email addresses alongside business names addresses and phone numbers. After consultation with Factual they advised the data was “publicly available information about businesses and other points of interest that Factual makes available on its website and to customers”.
About Factual
Factual is the organization affected by this breach. User data may have been generated through account creation, service usage, or business operations.
If you have interacted with Factual in any capacity, your data may be included in this breach.
Threat Actor: Unknown
The threat actor responsible for this breach has not been publicly identified or confirmed at this time.
- Under investigation
Breach Exploitation Status
Moderate
Status
Detected
Possible
Possible
Unknown
Unknown
3–5 years
Phone numbers and addresses change over time but remain valid long enough for sustained exploitation campaigns.
Data Points Exposed
Dark Web Verification
Status: Confirmed
- Dataset containing approximately 2.5M+ records has been identified in breach intelligence sources.
- The data is indexed and searchable across breach notification platforms.
Impact
This breach carries moderate risk due to the nature of exposed data fields and the scale of affected records.
- Targeted phishing referencing Factual accounts or services
- SIM-swap attempts where phone numbers are present
- Physical mail scams and address-based identity verification fraud
- Data broker enrichment and resale
Recommendations for Impacted Individuals
If you believe your information may be included:
Non-clients may request a breach impact review.
Factual account updates
Password reset requests
Verify directly through official channels.
Email compromise is often the first pivot point.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Mar, 2017, Factual experienced a data breach that resulted in the exposure of approximately 2.5M+ records containing personal information.
The exposed data includes Email, Employers, Phone numbers, Physical addresses.
Approximately 2.5M+ records were affected based on current breach intelligence.
Yes. This breach is treated as confirmed based on data observed in breach intelligence platforms.
Data circulation has been detected across breach-sharing channels. Downstream exploitation risk exists based on the nature of the exposed fields.
Rotate passwords associated with Factual, enable multi-factor authentication on email and financial accounts, and monitor for suspicious activity.
Protect Yourself
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High-Risk? Get an Exposure Audit
Executives, public figures, and high-net-worth individuals face elevated risk. Our team provides full-spectrum exposure audits and threat monitoring.
Corporate Accountability
Organizations that collect personal data have a duty to implement reasonable safeguards and to notify affected individuals when breaches occur.
Scope assessments may evolve as investigations continue. Users should not rely solely on early estimates when making risk decisions.
ObscureIQ Advisory
We combine proprietary dark web access with commercial and restricted breach intelligence to verify exposure and assess real-world risk.
- A public-facing individual
- A high-profile executive
- A customer of Factual
- Or simply concerned about credential reuse
We can confirm whether your information is circulating and evaluate downstream threat vectors.