FBI Probes Apparent IDScan.net Breach After 153M+ Driver’s Licenses Surface for Sale
Summary
A dark-web service offered more than 153 million U.S. and Canadian driver’s license scans. The FBI opened an inquiry into an apparent IDScan.net breach; the company later said an unauthorized party may have accessed or copied customer information.
Key points
- The Nexus service claimed to hold more than 153 million driver’s licenses, along with other identity documents, and its listed license count rose by nearly 400,000 in one day.
- Interviews and image timestamps suggested the scans may have come from identity checks at businesses, including car rentals and a dispensary; the article links IDScan.net to such services.
- The FBI’s New Orleans field office opened an investigation into an apparent breach involving IDScan.net.
- IDScan.net later said an unauthorized third party may have accessed or copied customer information, including names and driver’s license or other government-issued ID numbers; it said it was notifying affected individuals and offering credit protection.
- The exposed IDs could enable identity fraud and create safety risks for people who need to avoid being located.
- Nexus’s website later disappeared, displaying a message that the service was no longer available.
Article Details
- Victim Organization
- idscan.net
- Victim Domain
- idscan.net
- Incident Type
- Apparent breach involving unauthorized access to or copying of customer information
- Disclosure Date
- 2026-09-08
- Data Types Exposed
- Full names
- Driver's license or other government-issued identification numbers
- Digital images of driver's licenses and other identity documents
- Affected Records
- Nexus claimed to offer more than 153 million driver's licenses, along with other identity documents. IDscan.net's notice did not state how many individuals or records were affected.
- Operational Impact
- Nexus advertised identity documents for purchase. The service's website later displayed a message that it was no longer available. IDscan.net said it was notifying affected individuals and offering credit protection services.
- Ransom Or Extortion
- None reported
- Claim Status
- alleged
People
Jillian KossmanMarketing and operations leader at idscan.net who said the information provided had been helpful to the company's investigation.Larry BaldwinPrincipal intelligence researcher at Cybera whose driver's license scans were listed on Nexus.Zach EdwardsSecurity and privacy researcher whose driver's license was listed for purchase on Nexus; he discussed the apparent exposure with KrebsOnSecurity.
Vendors
Products
Countries
CanadaA new identity theft service launched on the dark web this week is selling digital scans of more than 153 million drivers licenses from people in the United States and Canada.United StatesA new identity theft service launched on the dark web this week is selling digital scans of more than 153 million drivers licenses from people in the United States and Canada.