On January 27, 2017, NEO Tech fell victim to a targeted email phishing attack, leading to a data breach that exposed sensitive employee information. The incident, reported by the California Office of the Attorney General on February 12, 2017, involved the unauthorized release of W-2 wage and tax data for approximately 80 employees. Compromised details included names, home addresses, income records, and Social Security Numbers (SSNs)—critical personal and financial identifiers. The breach stemmed from a deceptive phishing scheme, likely exploiting human error to gain access to internal systems or email accounts containing the W-2 forms. Such data is highly valuable for identity theft, tax fraud, or further targeted attacks. While the breach was confined to employee records (with no indication of customer data or ransomware involvement), the exposure of SSNs and financial information poses long-term risks, including potential fraud, credit damage, or regulatory penalties for the company. The incident underscores vulnerabilities in employee-focused cybersecurity awareness and the persistent threat of phishing as a gateway for data exfiltration.