(NewsNation) — Public advocates fearfulness that a imaginable tsunami of individuality theft is coming aft a hacking radical was capable to bargain the idiosyncratic records of astir 3 cardinal people.

The theft happened successful April, according to a class-action lawsuit filed successful national tribunal successful Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It says the hacking radical known arsenic USDoD stole the records from National Public Data, which offers idiosyncratic accusation to employers, backstage investigators and others who bash inheritance checks.

USDoD reportedly tried to merchantability the information for $3.5 cardinal but has present posted astir of it for escaped connected an online speech for stolen idiosyncratic data. It claims to person 2.9 cardinal records containing idiosyncratic information from radical successful the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

Several quality sites person examined portions of the information and reported that they look to beryllium existent people’s information. National Public Data has not responded to galore media requests for comment.

According to the website Bleeping Computer, “Each grounds consists of the pursuing accusation - a person's name, mailing addresses, and Social Security number, with immoderate records including further information, similar different names associated with the person. None of this information is encrypted.”

Experts accidental the astir effectual enactment you tin instrumentality close present is to frost your recognition files astatine the 3 large recognition bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. That volition forestall others from signing up for recognition cards oregon opening different fiscal accounts successful your name.

But if you privation to use for thing that requires a recognition check, you volition request to assistance the freeze.

One large warning: don’t respond to an unsolicited email that claims to beryllium from 1 of the recognition bureaus. Experts accidental it’s astir apt a scammer claiming to “save” you from the different scammers.

There are besides fee-based services that show your accounts and show the acheronian web.