Charles Schwab
Company Details
Linkedin ID:
charles-schwab
Website:
Employees number:
33,248
Number of followers:
443,083
NAICS:
52
Industry Type:
Homepage:
aboutschwab.com
IP Addresses:
805
Company ID:
CHA_3453917
Scan Status:
Completed
Charles Schwab Company CyberSecurity Posture
aboutschwab.com
Charles Schwab is a different kind of investment services firm – one that strives to disrupt the status quo of the traditional Wall Street approach on behalf of our clients. We believe today, as we did on Day 1, that when you find ways to improve the investing experience for your clients, then business results will follow. Follow our company culture at #SchwabLife and see how we give back at #Schwab4Good. Support hours: 7 a.m.–7 p.m. CT or 24/7 at schwab.com/contact-us. Social Media Disclosures: https://www.aboutschwab.com/social-media (#0424-TM8W)
Charles Schwab A.I CyberSecurity Scoring
Charles Schwab Risk Score (AI oriented)Between 750 and 799
Charles Schwab
Updated:
- Powered by our proprietary A.I cyber incident model
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Charles Schwab Global Score (TPRM)XXXX
Charles Schwab
- Instant access to detailed risk factors
- Benchmark vs. industry & size peers
- Vulnerabilities
- Findings
Charles Schwab Company CyberSecurity News & History
Past Incidents
5
Attack Types
2
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack without any consequences
Description: The California Office of the Attorney General reported a data breach involving Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. on May 3, 2016. The breach involved unusual login activity starting on or after March 25, 2016, potentially exposing client names and account numbers, although it is unclear if any actual data was accessed. No specific number of affected individuals was provided.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack without any consequences
Description: The Maine Office of the Attorney General reported that Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. experienced a data breach involving inadvertent disclosure of personal information from May 18, 2021, to December 16, 2021. Approximately 5,083 individuals were potentially affected, with 15 residents specifically noted. Identity theft protection services from IdentityForce were offered to those affected for 24 months.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks
Description: The Maine Office of the Attorney General disclosed a data breach at **Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.** on **June 8, 2023**, stemming from **insider wrongdoing** discovered on **April 19, 2023**. The incident compromised sensitive personal data, including **driver’s license numbers**, affecting **774 individuals**, of which **4 were Maine residents**. The breach involved unauthorized access or misuse of internal systems by an employee or trusted insider, leading to the exposure of personally identifiable information (PII). While the exact scope of the stolen data beyond driver’s license numbers remains undisclosed, such breaches typically heighten risks of **identity theft, financial fraud, or targeted phishing attacks** against victims. The company likely faced regulatory scrutiny, potential legal liabilities, and reputational damage due to the failure to prevent insider threats. Insider-driven breaches are particularly concerning as they exploit **legitimate access privileges**, bypassing traditional cybersecurity defenses. The incident underscores vulnerabilities in **internal controls, monitoring, and employee vetting processes**, which are critical for financial institutions handling high-value client data. No evidence suggests ransomware or external cyberattacks were involved, focusing the blame solely on **internal malfeasance**.
Schwab Retirement Plan Services, Inc.
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks
Description: The Washington State Office of the Attorney General reported a data breach involving Charles Schwab on October 1, 2015. The breach occurred on August 25, 2015, and affected 52 residents in Washington, with sensitive information including names, Social Security numbers, and full dates of birth being disclosed.
Charles Schwab
Cyber Attack
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack limited on finance or reputation
Description: Cybercriminal groups, leveraging advanced phishing kits from a China-based collective (e.g., 'Outsider'), targeted **Charles Schwab** customers to compromise brokerage accounts. The attackers exploited SMS-based multi-factor authentication (MFA) to gain unauthorized access, then used hijacked accounts to manipulate foreign stock prices via a **‘ramp-and-dump’ scheme**. By coordinating purchases of low-value stocks (e.g., Chinese IPOs or penny stocks) across multiple compromised accounts, they artificially inflated share prices before dumping holdings—leaving legitimate investors with worthless assets. The FBI and FINRA flagged this as a systemic threat, with victims facing **unrecoverable financial losses** due to the collapse of manipulated stocks. Schwab acknowledged the risk but noted industry-wide vulnerabilities in SMS-based verification. The attack also exposed weaknesses in brokerage MFA systems, where phished one-time codes enabled persistent account takeovers. While Schwab implemented mitigations (e.g., client advisories), the fraudsters’ use of **pre-positioned trades** and **cross-border coordination** (via Chinese exchanges) minimized traceability, amplifying reputational and financial harm.
Charles Schwab Company Scoring based on AI Models
Cyber Incidents Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months
A.I Risk Score Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months
Underwriter Stats for Charles Schwab
Incidents vs Financial Services Industry Average (This Year)
Charles Schwab has 28.21% more incidents than the average of same-industry companies with at least one recorded incident.
Incidents vs All-Companies Average (This Year)
Charles Schwab has 56.25% more incidents than the average of all companies with at least one recorded incident.
Incident Types Charles Schwab vs Financial Services Industry Avg (This Year)
Charles Schwab reported 1 incidents this year: 1 cyber attacks, 0 ransomware, 0 vulnerabilities, 0 data breaches, compared to industry peers with at least 1 incident.
Incident History — Charles Schwab (X = Date, Y = Severity)
Charles Schwab cyber incidents detection timeline including parent company and subsidiaries
Charles Schwab Company Subsidiaries
Charles Schwab is a different kind of investment services firm – one that strives to disrupt the status quo of the traditional Wall Street approach on behalf of our clients. We believe today, as we did on Day 1, that when you find ways to improve the investing experience for your clients, then business results will follow. Follow our company culture at #SchwabLife and see how we give back at #Schwab4Good. Support hours: 7 a.m.–7 p.m. CT or 24/7 at schwab.com/contact-us. Social Media Disclosures: https://www.aboutschwab.com/social-media (#0424-TM8W)
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Charles Schwab CyberSecurity News
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November 11, 2025 08:00 AM
Schwab Orders Select Clients to Reset Logins, Joining Fidelity’s Credential‑Sharing Crackdown — Pontera Says Fidelity ‘Stands Alone’
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Frequently Asked Questions
Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.
Charles Schwab CyberSecurity History Information
Official Website of Charles Schwab
The official website of Charles Schwab is http://www.aboutschwab.com.
Charles Schwab’s AI-Generated Cybersecurity Score
According to Rankiteo, Charles Schwab’s AI-generated cybersecurity score is 784, reflecting their Fair security posture.
How many security badges does Charles Schwab’ have ?
According to Rankiteo, Charles Schwab currently holds 0 security badges, indicating that no recognized compliance certifications are currently verified for the organization.
Does Charles Schwab have SOC 2 Type 1 certification ?
According to Rankiteo, Charles Schwab is not certified under SOC 2 Type 1.
Does Charles Schwab have SOC 2 Type 2 certification ?
According to Rankiteo, Charles Schwab does not hold a SOC 2 Type 2 certification.
Does Charles Schwab comply with GDPR ?
According to Rankiteo, Charles Schwab is not listed as GDPR compliant.
Does Charles Schwab have PCI DSS certification ?
According to Rankiteo, Charles Schwab does not currently maintain PCI DSS compliance.
Does Charles Schwab comply with HIPAA ?
According to Rankiteo, Charles Schwab is not compliant with HIPAA regulations.
Does Charles Schwab have ISO 27001 certification ?
According to Rankiteo,Charles Schwab is not certified under ISO 27001, indicating the absence of a formally recognized information security management framework.
Industry Classification of Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab operates primarily in the Financial Services industry.
Number of Employees at Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab employs approximately 33,248 people worldwide.
Subsidiaries Owned by Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab presently has no subsidiaries across any sectors.
Charles Schwab’s LinkedIn Followers
Charles Schwab’s official LinkedIn profile has approximately 443,083 followers.
NAICS Classification of Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab is classified under the NAICS code 52, which corresponds to Finance and Insurance.
Charles Schwab’s Presence on Crunchbase
No, Charles Schwab does not have a profile on Crunchbase.
Charles Schwab’s Presence on LinkedIn
Yes, Charles Schwab maintains an official LinkedIn profile, which is actively utilized for branding and talent engagement, which can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/charles-schwab.
Cybersecurity Incidents Involving Charles Schwab
As of November 27, 2025, Rankiteo reports that Charles Schwab has experienced 5 cybersecurity incidents.
Number of Peer and Competitor Companies
Charles Schwab has an estimated 29,513 peer or competitor companies worldwide.
What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at Charles Schwab ?
Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include Breach and Cyber Attack.
What was the total financial impact of these incidents on Charles Schwab ?
Total Financial Loss: The total financial loss from these incidents is estimated to be $0.
How does Charles Schwab detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents ?
Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through an third party assistance with identityforce, and incident response plan activated with yes (finra advisory, fbi victim outreach), and third party assistance with secalliance (csis security group) - research/tracking, third party assistance with krebsonsecurity - public disclosure, and law enforcement notified with yes (fbi seeking victim information as of feb 2025), and containment measures with brokerages monitoring for suspicious trading patterns (e.g., schwab), containment measures with enhanced mfa requirements for mobile wallet onboarding, containment measures with client advisories on emerging fraud trends, and remediation measures with schwab: multi-layered fraud mitigation (e.g., disrupting sms-based verification exploits), remediation measures with fidelity/vanguard: push for u2f/physical security key adoption, remediation measures with industry-wide coordination on phishing kit takedowns, and communication strategy with finra advisory on ramp-and-dump risks, communication strategy with schwab client communications (feb 2025), communication strategy with media outreach (e.g., krebsonsecurity, secalliance), and enhanced monitoring with yes (brokerages tracking coordinated trading), and communication strategy with public disclosure via maine attorney general’s office..
Incident Details
Can you provide details on each incident ?
Title: Charles Schwab Data Breach
Description: The Washington State Office of the Attorney General reported a data breach involving Charles Schwab on October 1, 2015. The breach occurred on August 25, 2015, and affected 52 residents in Washington, with sensitive information including names, Social Security numbers, and full dates of birth being disclosed.
Date Detected: 2015-08-25
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2015-10-01
Type: Data Breach
Title: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Data Breach
Description: The California Office of the Attorney General reported a data breach involving Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. on May 3, 2016. The breach involved unusual login activity starting on or after March 25, 2016, potentially exposing client names and account numbers, although it is unclear if any actual data was accessed. No specific number of affected individuals was provided.
Date Detected: 2016-03-25
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2016-05-03
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Unusual Login Activity
Title: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Data Breach
Description: The Maine Office of the Attorney General reported that Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. experienced a data breach involving inadvertent disclosure of personal information from May 18, 2021, to December 16, 2021. Approximately 5,083 individuals were potentially affected, with 15 residents specifically noted. Identity theft protection services from IdentityForce were offered to those affected for 24 months.
Date Detected: 2021-12-16
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Inadvertent Disclosure
Title: Ramp-and-Dump Scheme Targeting Brokerage Customers via Sophisticated Phishing Kits
Description: Cybercriminal groups, primarily based in China, are using advanced phishing kits to compromise brokerage accounts and manipulate foreign stock prices through a 'ramp-and-dump' scheme. The attackers exploit SMS-based multi-factor authentication (MFA) weaknesses to gain access to victim accounts, liquidate existing positions, and coordinate mass purchases of targeted stocks (often Chinese IPOs or penny stocks) to artificially inflate prices. Once the price peaks, the fraudsters sell their holdings, leaving legitimate investors with worthless shares. The scheme leverages compromised mobile wallets, Telegram-coordinated phishing kits (e.g., from vendor 'Outsider'), and AI/LLM-assisted development to evade detection. The FBI and FINRA have issued advisories about this emerging threat, which shifts focus from traditional payment fraud to securities manipulation.
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-02
Type: Financial Fraud
Attack Vector: SMS Phishing (Smishing)Mobile Phishing Kits (Telegram-distributed)Spoofed Brokerage Alerts (iMessage/RCS)One-Time Passcode (OTP) InterceptionCompromised Mobile Wallets (Apple/Google Pay)Coordinated Trading via Hijacked Accounts
Vulnerability Exploited: Weak SMS-based Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)Lack of U2F/Physical Security Key EnforcementPhishable OTP Tokens for Mobile Wallet ProvisioningBrokerage Platforms Allowing MFA via Text/CallDelayed Detection of Coordinated Trading Patterns
Threat Actor: Name: Outsider (aka Chenlun), Affiliation: China-based phishing collective, Role: Phishing kit developer/vendor, Platform: Telegram (@outsider, formerly @chenlun), Specialization: Mobile phishing kits targeting brokerages, postal services, and toll operators, Name: Unnamed China-based Phishing Groups, Affiliation: Telegram-coordinated communities, Role: Operational execution (account compromise, stock manipulation), Tools: AI/LLM-assisted phishing kits, bulk mobile device farms, Targets: U.S. brokerage customers (e.g., Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard).
Motivation: Financial Gain (Stock Price Manipulation)Fraudulent E-Commerce/Tap-to-Pay TransactionsSale of Compromised Accounts/Devices on Dark WebExploitation of Cross-Border Regulatory Gaps
Title: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Data Breach via Insider Wrongdoing
Description: The Maine Office of the Attorney General reported a data breach involving Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. The breach, which involved insider wrongdoing, was discovered on April 19, 2023, and potentially affected 774 individuals, including 4 residents of Maine. Information compromised includes driver’s license numbers among other personal data.
Date Detected: 2023-04-19
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-06-08
Type: Data Breach (Insider Threat)
Attack Vector: Insider Wrongdoing
Threat Actor: Insider (Employee/Associate)
What are the most common types of attacks the company has faced ?
Common Attack Types: The most common types of attacks the company has faced is Breach.
How does the company identify the attack vectors used in incidents ?
Identification of Attack Vectors: The company identifies the attack vectors used in incidents through Spoofed Brokerage Alerts (iMessage/RCS)SMS Phishing (USPS/toll road lures for card data)Telegram-Distributed Phishing Kits (e.g. and Outsider’s templates).
Impact of the Incidents
What was the impact of each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach CHA049072425
Data Compromised: Names, Social security numbers, Full dates of birth
Incident : Data Breach CHA127072425
Data Compromised: Client names, Account numbers
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Financial Loss: Unspecified (catastrophic collapse in share prices for legitimate investors)
Data Compromised: Brokerage account credentials, One-time passcodes (otp), Payment card data (for mobile wallet enrollment), Trading history/position data
Systems Affected: Brokerage Trading Platforms (e.g., Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard)Mobile Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)SMS/OTP Delivery SystemsChinese Stock Exchanges (targeted IPOs/penny stocks)
Operational Impact: Disruption of Legitimate Trading ActivityIncreased Fraud Detection/Response Costs for BrokeragesErosion of Trust in SMS-based MFA
Customer Complaints: Likely high (unrecoverable investment losses)
Brand Reputation Impact: Brokerages: Perceived Security WeaknessesMobile Wallet Providers: Association with FraudChinese Stock Exchanges: Suspicion of Market Manipulation
Legal Liabilities: Potential SEC/FINRA Enforcement ActionsClass-Action Lawsuits from Affected InvestorsRegulatory Scrutiny of MFA Practices
Identity Theft Risk: High (via compromised brokerage/mobile wallet credentials)
Payment Information Risk: High (mobile wallet enrollment fraud)
Incident : Data Breach (Insider Threat) CHA040091825
Data Compromised: Driver’s license numbers, Other personal data
Brand Reputation Impact: Potential reputational harm due to insider breach and exposure of sensitive personal data
Identity Theft Risk: High (due to exposure of driver’s license numbers and personal data)
What is the average financial loss per incident ?
Average Financial Loss: The average financial loss per incident is $0.00.
What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents ?
Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Names, Social Security Numbers, Full Dates Of Birth, , Client Names, Account Numbers, , Personal Information, Brokerage Account Credentials, One-Time Passcodes (Otp), Payment Card Data, Mobile Wallet Enrollment Tokens, , Driver’S License Numbers, Personal Data and .
Which entities were affected by each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach CHA049072425
Entity Name: Charles Schwab
Entity Type: Financial Services
Industry: Finance
Location: Washington
Customers Affected: 52
Incident : Data Breach CHA127072425
Entity Name: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Entity Type: Financial Services
Industry: Finance
Location: California, USA
Incident : Data Breach CHA319072825
Entity Name: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Entity Type: Financial Services
Industry: Finance
Customers Affected: 5083
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Entity Name: Charles Schwab
Entity Type: Brokerage Firm
Industry: Financial Services
Location: United States
Size: Large (34+ million client accounts as of 2023)
Customers Affected: Unknown (targeted by phishing kits)
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Entity Name: Fidelity Investments
Entity Type: Brokerage Firm
Industry: Financial Services
Location: United States
Size: Large (40+ million individual investors)
Customers Affected: Unknown (vulnerable to phishing due to SMS MFA)
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Entity Name: Vanguard
Entity Type: Brokerage Firm
Industry: Financial Services
Location: United States
Size: Large (30+ million investors globally)
Customers Affected: Unknown (less vulnerable due to U2F support)
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Entity Name: Unspecified Chinese IPO/Penny Stock Companies
Entity Type: Publicly Traded Firms
Industry: Varied (often small-cap or shell companies)
Location: China/Hong Kong
Size: Small to Mid-Sized
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Entity Name: Legitimate Investors in Targeted Stocks
Entity Type: Individual/Retail Investors
Location: Global
Customers Affected: Unknown (suffer unrecoverable losses)
Incident : Data Breach (Insider Threat) CHA040091825
Entity Name: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Entity Type: Financial Services
Industry: Investment Brokerage
Location: United States
Customers Affected: 774 individuals (including 4 Maine residents)
Response to the Incidents
What measures were taken in response to each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach CHA319072825
Third Party Assistance: IdentityForce
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Incident Response Plan Activated: Yes (FINRA advisory, FBI victim outreach)
Third Party Assistance: Secalliance (Csis Security Group) - Research/Tracking, Krebsonsecurity - Public Disclosure.
Law Enforcement Notified: Yes (FBI seeking victim information as of Feb 2025)
Containment Measures: Brokerages Monitoring for Suspicious Trading Patterns (e.g., Schwab)Enhanced MFA Requirements for Mobile Wallet OnboardingClient Advisories on Emerging Fraud Trends
Remediation Measures: Schwab: Multi-Layered Fraud Mitigation (e.g., disrupting SMS-based verification exploits)Fidelity/Vanguard: Push for U2F/Physical Security Key AdoptionIndustry-Wide Coordination on Phishing Kit Takedowns
Communication Strategy: FINRA Advisory on Ramp-and-Dump RisksSchwab Client Communications (Feb 2025)Media Outreach (e.g., KrebsOnSecurity, SecAlliance)
Enhanced Monitoring: Yes (brokerages tracking coordinated trading)
Incident : Data Breach (Insider Threat) CHA040091825
Communication Strategy: Public disclosure via Maine Attorney General’s office
What is the company's incident response plan?
Incident Response Plan: The company's incident response plan is described as Yes (FINRA advisory, FBI victim outreach).
How does the company involve third-party assistance in incident response ?
Third-Party Assistance: The company involves third-party assistance in incident response through IdentityForce, SecAlliance (CSIS Security Group) - Research/Tracking, KrebsOnSecurity - Public Disclosure, .
Data Breach Information
What type of data was compromised in each breach ?
Incident : Data Breach CHA049072425
Type of Data Compromised: Names, Social security numbers, Full dates of birth
Number of Records Exposed: 52
Sensitivity of Data: High
Incident : Data Breach CHA127072425
Type of Data Compromised: Client names, Account numbers
Incident : Data Breach CHA319072825
Type of Data Compromised: Personal Information
Number of Records Exposed: 5083
Sensitivity of Data: High
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Type of Data Compromised: Brokerage account credentials, One-time passcodes (otp), Payment card data, Mobile wallet enrollment tokens
Sensitivity of Data: High (financial account access, payment instruments)
Data Exfiltration: Yes (credentials sold/used for fraud)
Data Encryption: Unlikely (phished in plaintext)
Personally Identifiable Information: Names (via brokerage accounts)Phone Numbers (SMS OTP delivery)Financial Account Details
Incident : Data Breach (Insider Threat) CHA040091825
Type of Data Compromised: Driver’s license numbers, Personal data
Number of Records Exposed: 774
Sensitivity of Data: High (includes government-issued IDs)
What measures does the company take to prevent data exfiltration ?
Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: Schwab: Multi-Layered Fraud Mitigation (e.g., disrupting SMS-based verification exploits), Fidelity/Vanguard: Push for U2F/Physical Security Key Adoption, Industry-Wide Coordination on Phishing Kit Takedowns, .
How does the company handle incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) ?
Handling of PII Incidents: The company handles incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) through by brokerages monitoring for suspicious trading patterns (e.g., schwab), enhanced mfa requirements for mobile wallet onboarding, client advisories on emerging fraud trends and .
Regulatory Compliance
Were there any regulatory violations and fines imposed for each incident ?
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Regulations Violated: Potential SEC Rules on Market Manipulation (e.g., 10b-5), FINRA Rules on Fraudulent Trading, GDPR/CCPA (if EU/CA residents affected by data breaches),
Regulatory Notifications: FINRA Advisory (public)FBI Victim Outreach (Feb 2025)
Incident : Data Breach (Insider Threat) CHA040091825
Regulatory Notifications: Maine Office of the Attorney General
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
What lessons were learned from each incident ?
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Lessons Learned: SMS-based MFA is Insufficient for High-Risk Transactions (e.g., trading, mobile wallets), Phishing Kits Rapidly Adapt to New Targets (e.g., shift from USPS tolls to brokerages), Coordinated Fraud Schemes Exploit Cross-Border Regulatory Gaps, AI/LLMs Accelerate Phishing Kit Development and Customization, Human-in-the-Loop Phishing (e.g., OTP interception farms) Bypasses Automation Defenses
What recommendations were made to prevent future incidents ?
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Recommendations: For Brokerage Firms: Mandate U2F/Physical Security Keys for High-Risk Actions, Implement Behavioral Analytics for Trading Patterns, Restrict Mobile Wallet Enrollment to Bank-Owned Apps, Monitor Telegram/Dark Web for Phishing Kit Sales. For Investors: Enable U2F or App-Based MFA (Avoid SMS/Call), Monitor Accounts for Unauthorized Trades, Report Suspicious Activity to Brokerage/FINRA. For Regulators: Coordinate Cross-Border Fraud Investigations (U.S.-China), Update MFA Guidelines for Financial Sector, Penalize Firms Relying on Phishable Authentication. For Mobile Wallet Providers: Require In-App Enrollment for New Devices, Implement Device Fingerprinting to Detect Bulk Fraud.
What are the key lessons learned from past incidents ?
Key Lessons Learned: The key lessons learned from past incidents are SMS-based MFA is Insufficient for High-Risk Transactions (e.g., trading, mobile wallets),Phishing Kits Rapidly Adapt to New Targets (e.g., shift from USPS tolls to brokerages),Coordinated Fraud Schemes Exploit Cross-Border Regulatory Gaps,AI/LLMs Accelerate Phishing Kit Development and Customization,Human-in-the-Loop Phishing (e.g., OTP interception farms) Bypasses Automation Defenses.
What recommendations has the company implemented to improve cybersecurity ?
Implemented Recommendations: The company has implemented the following recommendations to improve cybersecurity: For: Brokerage Firms, , For: Investors, , For: Mobile Wallet Providers, , For: Regulators and .
References
Where can I find more information about each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach CHA049072425
Source: Washington State Office of the Attorney General
Date Accessed: 2015-10-01
Incident : Data Breach CHA127072425
Source: California Office of the Attorney General
Date Accessed: 2016-05-03
Incident : Data Breach CHA319072825
Source: Maine Office of the Attorney General
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Source: FINRA Advisory on Ramp-and-Dump Schemes
Date Accessed: 2025-02
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Source: KrebsOnSecurity: 'Outsider’ Phishing Kit Vendor Targets Brokerages
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Source: SecAlliance Research (Ford Merrill)
Incident : Data Breach (Insider Threat) CHA040091825
Source: Maine Office of the Attorney General
Date Accessed: 2023-06-08
Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?
Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: Washington State Office of the Attorney GeneralDate Accessed: 2015-10-01, and Source: California Office of the Attorney GeneralDate Accessed: 2016-05-03, and Source: Maine Office of the Attorney General, and Source: FINRA Advisory on Ramp-and-Dump SchemesDate Accessed: 2025-02, and Source: FBI Victim Outreach (Feb 2025)Date Accessed: 2025-02, and Source: KrebsOnSecurity: 'Outsider’ Phishing Kit Vendor Targets BrokeragesUrl: https://krebsonsecurity.com, and Source: SecAlliance Research (Ford Merrill), and Source: Schwab Client Advisory (2025)Date Accessed: 2025-01, and Source: Maine Office of the Attorney GeneralDate Accessed: 2023-06-08.
Investigation Status
What is the current status of the investigation for each incident ?
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Investigation Status: Ongoing (FBI seeking victims; brokerages monitoring)
Incident : Data Breach (Insider Threat) CHA040091825
Investigation Status: Disclosed; ongoing or closed status unclear
How does the company communicate the status of incident investigations to stakeholders ?
Communication of Investigation Status: The company communicates the status of incident investigations to stakeholders through Finra Advisory On Ramp-And-Dump Risks, Schwab Client Communications (Feb 2025), Media Outreach (E.G., Krebsonsecurity, Secalliance) and Public disclosure via Maine Attorney General’s office.
Stakeholder and Customer Advisories
Were there any advisories issued to stakeholders or customers for each incident ?
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Stakeholder Advisories: Finra: Warned Member Firms About Controlled Trading Activity, Schwab: Communicated Risks To Clients (Early 2025), Fidelity/Vanguard: Likely Internal Alerts (Not Publicized).
Customer Advisories: Schwab: 'Emerging fraud trends' notice (2025)General: Avoid SMS-based MFA; report phishing attempts
What advisories does the company provide to stakeholders and customers following an incident ?
Advisories Provided: The company provides the following advisories to stakeholders and customers following an incident: were Finra: Warned Member Firms About Controlled Trading Activity, Schwab: Communicated Risks To Clients (Early 2025), Fidelity/Vanguard: Likely Internal Alerts (Not Publicized), Schwab: 'Emerging Fraud Trends' Notice (2025), General: Avoid Sms-Based Mfa; Report Phishing Attempts and .
Initial Access Broker
How did the initial access broker gain entry for each incident ?
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Entry Point: Spoofed Brokerage Alerts (Imessage/Rcs), Sms Phishing (Usps/Toll Road Lures For Card Data), Telegram-Distributed Phishing Kits (E.G., Outsider’S Templates),
Reconnaissance Period: 2022–2024 (evolution from USPS tolls to brokerages)
Backdoors Established: Yes (persistent access via compromised mobile wallets)
High Value Targets: Brokerage Accounts With Trading Privileges, Chinese Ipo/Penny Stocks (Low Liquidity, Easy To Manipulate),
Data Sold on Dark Web: Brokerage Accounts With Trading Privileges, Chinese Ipo/Penny Stocks (Low Liquidity, Easy To Manipulate),
Post-Incident Analysis
What were the root causes and corrective actions taken for each incident ?
Incident : Financial Fraud CHA843081625
Root Causes: Over-Reliance On Phishable Mfa (Sms/Otp), Lack Of Cross-Account Trading Pattern Detection, Delayed Adoption Of U2F/Physical Keys, Telegram’S Role As A Marketplace For Phishing Tools, Regulatory Arbitrage (U.S. Brokerages Vs. Chinese Exchanges),
Corrective Actions: Brokerages: Stricter Mfa Policies (E.G., Schwab’S App-Based Otp), Industry: Shared Intelligence On Phishing Kit Vendors, Regulators: Updated Guidance On Securities Fraud Via Ato, Tech Platforms: Disruption Of Telegram Phishing Kit Sales,
Incident : Data Breach (Insider Threat) CHA040091825
Root Causes: Insider wrongdoing (intentional or negligent misuse of access)
What is the company's process for conducting post-incident analysis ?
Post-Incident Analysis Process: The company's process for conducting post-incident analysis is described as IdentityForce, Secalliance (Csis Security Group) - Research/Tracking, Krebsonsecurity - Public Disclosure, , Yes (brokerages tracking coordinated trading).
What corrective actions has the company taken based on post-incident analysis ?
Corrective Actions Taken: The company has taken the following corrective actions based on post-incident analysis: Brokerages: Stricter Mfa Policies (E.G., Schwab’S App-Based Otp), Industry: Shared Intelligence On Phishing Kit Vendors, Regulators: Updated Guidance On Securities Fraud Via Ato, Tech Platforms: Disruption Of Telegram Phishing Kit Sales, .
Additional Questions
General Information
Who was the attacking group in the last incident ?
Last Attacking Group: The attacking group in the last incident were an Name: Outsider (aka Chenlun)Affiliation: China-based phishing collectiveRole: Phishing kit developer/vendorPlatform: Telegram (@outsider, formerly @chenlun)Specialization: Mobile phishing kits targeting brokerages, postal services, and toll operatorsName: Unnamed China-based Phishing GroupsAffiliation: Telegram-coordinated communitiesRole: Operational execution (account compromise, stock manipulation)Tools: AI/LLM-assisted phishing kits, bulk mobile device farmsTargets: U.S. brokerage customers (e.g., Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard) and Insider (Employee/Associate).
Incident Details
What was the most recent incident detected ?
Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on 2015-08-25.
What was the most recent incident publicly disclosed ?
Most Recent Incident Publicly Disclosed: The most recent incident publicly disclosed was on 2023-06-08.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the highest financial loss from an incident ?
Highest Financial Loss: The highest financial loss from an incident was Unspecified (catastrophic collapse in share prices for legitimate investors).
What was the most significant data compromised in an incident ?
Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident were names, Social Security numbers, full dates of birth, , Client Names, Account Numbers, , Personal Information, Brokerage Account Credentials, One-Time Passcodes (OTP), Payment Card Data (for mobile wallet enrollment), Trading History/Position Data, , Driver’s license numbers, Other personal data and .
What was the most significant system affected in an incident ?
Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident were Brokerage Trading Platforms (e.g., Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard)Mobile Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)SMS/OTP Delivery SystemsChinese Stock Exchanges (targeted IPOs/penny stocks).
Response to the Incidents
What third-party assistance was involved in the most recent incident ?
Third-Party Assistance in Most Recent Incident: The third-party assistance involved in the most recent incident was IdentityForce, secalliance (csis security group) - research/tracking, krebsonsecurity - public disclosure, .
What containment measures were taken in the most recent incident ?
Containment Measures in Most Recent Incident: The containment measures taken in the most recent incident were Brokerages Monitoring for Suspicious Trading Patterns (e.g. and Schwab)Enhanced MFA Requirements for Mobile Wallet OnboardingClient Advisories on Emerging Fraud Trends.
Data Breach Information
What was the most sensitive data compromised in a breach ?
Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach were Trading History/Position Data, Personal Information, names, full dates of birth, Payment Card Data (for mobile wallet enrollment), Driver’s license numbers, Brokerage Account Credentials, One-Time Passcodes (OTP), Social Security numbers, Other personal data, Account Numbers and Client Names.
What was the number of records exposed in the most significant breach ?
Number of Records Exposed in Most Significant Breach: The number of records exposed in the most significant breach was 1.3K.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
What was the most significant lesson learned from past incidents ?
Most Significant Lesson Learned: The most significant lesson learned from past incidents was Human-in-the-Loop Phishing (e.g., OTP interception farms) Bypasses Automation Defenses.
What was the most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity ?
Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was For: Brokerage Firms, , For: Investors, , For: Mobile Wallet Providers, , For: Regulators and .
References
What is the most recent source of information about an incident ?
Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident are KrebsOnSecurity: 'Outsider’ Phishing Kit Vendor Targets Brokerages, SecAlliance Research (Ford Merrill), Washington State Office of the Attorney General, Maine Office of the Attorney General, California Office of the Attorney General, FBI Victim Outreach (Feb 2025), Schwab Client Advisory (2025) and FINRA Advisory on Ramp-and-Dump Schemes.
What is the most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?
Most Recent URL for Additional Resources: The most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices is https://krebsonsecurity.com .
Investigation Status
What is the current status of the most recent investigation ?
Current Status of Most Recent Investigation: The current status of the most recent investigation is Ongoing (FBI seeking victims; brokerages monitoring).
Stakeholder and Customer Advisories
What was the most recent stakeholder advisory issued ?
Most Recent Stakeholder Advisory: The most recent stakeholder advisory issued was FINRA: Warned member firms about controlled trading activity, Schwab: Communicated risks to clients (early 2025), Fidelity/Vanguard: Likely internal alerts (not publicized), .
What was the most recent customer advisory issued ?
Most Recent Customer Advisory: The most recent customer advisory issued was an Schwab: 'Emerging fraud trends' notice (2025)General: Avoid SMS-based MFA; report phishing attempts.
Initial Access Broker
What was the most recent reconnaissance period for an incident ?
Most Recent Reconnaissance Period: The most recent reconnaissance period for an incident was 2022–2024 (evolution from USPS tolls to brokerages).
Post-Incident Analysis
What was the most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis ?
Most Significant Root Cause: The most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis was Over-Reliance on Phishable MFA (SMS/OTP)Lack of Cross-Account Trading Pattern DetectionDelayed Adoption of U2F/Physical KeysTelegram’s Role as a Marketplace for Phishing ToolsRegulatory Arbitrage (U.S. brokerages vs. Chinese exchanges), Insider wrongdoing (intentional or negligent misuse of access).
What was the most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis ?
Most Significant Corrective Action: The most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis was Brokerages: Stricter MFA Policies (e.g., Schwab’s app-based OTP)Industry: Shared Intelligence on Phishing Kit VendorsRegulators: Updated Guidance on Securities Fraud via ATOTech Platforms: Disruption of Telegram Phishing Kit Sales.
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Latest Global CVEs (Not Company-Specific)
Description
Angular is a development platform for building mobile and desktop web applications using TypeScript/JavaScript and other languages. Prior to versions 19.2.16, 20.3.14, and 21.0.1, there is a XSRF token leakage via protocol-relative URLs in angular HTTP clients. The vulnerability is a Credential Leak by App Logic that leads to the unauthorized disclosure of the Cross-Site Request Forgery (XSRF) token to an attacker-controlled domain. Angular's HttpClient has a built-in XSRF protection mechanism that works by checking if a request URL starts with a protocol (http:// or https://) to determine if it is cross-origin. If the URL starts with protocol-relative URL (//), it is incorrectly treated as a same-origin request, and the XSRF token is automatically added to the X-XSRF-TOKEN header. This issue has been patched in versions 19.2.16, 20.3.14, and 21.0.1. A workaround for this issue involves avoiding using protocol-relative URLs (URLs starting with //) in HttpClient requests. All backend communication URLs should be hardcoded as relative paths (starting with a single /) or fully qualified, trusted absolute URLs.
Risk Information
cvss4
Base: 7.7
Severity: LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
References
- https://github.com/angular/angular/commit/0276479e7d0e280e0f8d26fa567d3b7aa97a516f
- https://github.com/angular/angular/commit/05fe6686a97fa0bcd3cf157805b3612033f975bc
- https://github.com/angular/angular/commit/3240d856d942727372a705252f7c8c115394a41e
- https://github.com/angular/angular/releases/tag/19.2.16
- https://github.com/angular/angular/releases/tag/20.3.14
- https://github.com/angular/angular/releases/tag/21.0.1
- https://github.com/angular/angular/security/advisories/GHSA-58c5-g7wp-6w37
Description
Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. An Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerability in node-forge versions 1.3.1 and below enables remote, unauthenticated attackers to craft deep ASN.1 structures that trigger unbounded recursive parsing. This leads to a Denial-of-Service (DoS) via stack exhaustion when parsing untrusted DER inputs. This issue has been patched in version 1.3.2.
Risk Information
cvss4
Base: 8.7
Severity: LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Description
Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. An Integer Overflow vulnerability in node-forge versions 1.3.1 and below enables remote, unauthenticated attackers to craft ASN.1 structures containing OIDs with oversized arcs. These arcs may be decoded as smaller, trusted OIDs due to 32-bit bitwise truncation, enabling the bypass of downstream OID-based security decisions. This issue has been patched in version 1.3.2.
Risk Information
cvss4
Base: 6.3
Severity: LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Description
Suricata is a network IDS, IPS and NSM engine developed by the OISF (Open Information Security Foundation) and the Suricata community. Prior to versions 7.0.13 and 8.0.2, working with large buffers in Lua scripts can lead to a stack overflow. Users of Lua rules and output scripts may be affected when working with large buffers. This includes a rule passing a large buffer to a Lua script. This issue has been patched in versions 7.0.13 and 8.0.2. A workaround for this issue involves disabling Lua rules and output scripts, or making sure limits, such as stream.depth.reassembly and HTTP response body limits (response-body-limit), are set to less than half the stack size.
Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 7.5
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Description
Suricata is a network IDS, IPS and NSM engine developed by the OISF (Open Information Security Foundation) and the Suricata community. In versions from 8.0.0 to before 8.0.2, a NULL dereference can occur when the entropy keyword is used in conjunction with base64_data. This issue has been patched in version 8.0.2. A workaround involves disabling rules that use entropy in conjunction with base64_data.
Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 7.5
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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