American Express spin-off Ameriprise Financial says a laptop computer containing account information on 68,000 financial advisers and 158,000 customers was stolen from a car of an employee who had no authorization to remove the records. Andrew MacMillan, a spokesman for Ameriprise, said that although the records were unencrypted there was little risk of “any data being used or discovered.” The firm calls the theft a “random criminal act,” and there has been reported misuse of information contained on the computer. Ameriprise reportedly has notified customers of the theft, which occurred in December, and has provided them with free credit-monitoring. The employee, who MacMillan says violated “a few written company policies” by removing the data, has been sacked.
