PLEASANT GROVE, Utah, April 26, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A Utah-based essential oils distributor has warned customers of a possible data breach that could include Social Security numbers, passwords and credit or debit card information.
dōTERRA International, based in Pleasant Grove, notified the State of California’s Attorney General’s office that personal information of its customers and wholesale members, or “Wellness Advocates,” was breached, according to SC Magazine.
The magazine, for IT security professionals, said the breach consisted of names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, usernames, passwords, and credit or debit card information ─ including card numbers, security codes and expiration dates.
The magazine said a third-party vendor that provides dōTERRA with data hosting and software services informed the company an intruder had unlawfully accessed some of the vendor’s systems last month.
dōTERRA immediately engaged security experts to conduct an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the issue, as well as working closely with law enforcement authorities. Individuals who were affected by this incident were notified by postal mail.
dōTERRA’s website says of the company: “dōTERRA products are sold exclusively through ‘Wellness Advocates.’ Working from home, these advocates introduce, educate about, and sell dōTERRA products in their local markets through person-to-person contact and globally through personalized web shopping sites.
“In addition to the ongoing development of new essential oils and proprietary essential oil blends, dōTERRA product offerings include nutritional, spa and healthy living products based on essential oil technologies and a comprehensive wellness philosophy.”
