Wells Fargo code used to illegally access consumer data

Wells Fargo Bank NA is in the process of notifying some 7,000 individuals that a thief may have accessed their Social Security numbers and other personal information by illegally using the financial services firm's access codes.

The bank learned of the compromise on July 1 when MicroBilt Corp., a reseller of consumer data, notified it of suspicious transactions made using the Wells Fargo access codes, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco-based bank said today. The codes are used by Wells Fargo employees to gain access to consumer credit data.