Strauss Borrelli PLLC, a leading data breach law firm, is investigating Bay Ridge Automotive Management Group, which does business as BRAM Auto Group (‘BRAM”), regarding its recent data breach. The BRAM data breach may have involved sensitive personal identifiable information belonging to an undetermined number of individuals.
ABOUT BAY RIDGE AUTOMOTIVE MANAGEMENT GROUP D/B/A BRAM AUTO GROUP:
BRAM is a family-owned automotive management group based in New Jersey. Founded over 50 years ago, BRAM offers a wide selection of new and used vehicles from multiple brands across its dealerships in New Jersey and New York. Today, BRAM owns and operates 12 dealership locations representing Lexus, Honda, Toyota, Jeep, Chrysler, Genesis, and Hyundai brands.2 Headquartered in North Bergen, New Jersey, BRAM employs over 1,000 individuals.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Recently, BRAM reported to the Attorney General of Vermont that it had experienced a data breach in which the sensitive personal identifiable information in its systems may have been accessed and acquired. According to the breach notice, on February 2, 2024, BRAM became aware of unusual activity within its network environment. As a result, BRAM launched an investigation to determine the nature of the incident.
Through its investigation, BRAM learned that sensitive personal information in its systems may have been viewed and obtained by an unauthorized individual on or about February 2, 2024. As a result, BRAM began a review of the data to determine what information had been impacted as well as identify the specific individuals affected. On August 29, 2024, BRAM completed this review. The exact type of personal information potentially exposed has not been made publicly available by BRAM. However, according to state reporting guidelines, “personal information” can include the following types of information:
- Name
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license or other government issued ID card numbers (e.g., individual taxpayer ID number, passport number, military ID card number)
- Financial account number or credit or debit card number
- Unique biometric data (e.g., fingerprint, retina or iris image, or other unique biometric representation)
- Genetic information
- Health record or records of a wellness program or similar program of health promotion or disease prevention (e.g., healthcare professional’s medical diagnosis or treatment of the consumer, health insurance policy number)
On September 26, 2024, BRAM began mailing data breach notification letters to impacted individuals. Based on the breach notice sent to Vermont residents, BRAM is providing affected individuals with a list of the specific type of sensitive information impacted and complimentary credit monitoring services. A link to the form breach notification letters that BRAM filed with the Attorney General of Vermont is below.
If you received a breach notification letter from Bay Ridge Automotive Management Group d/b/a BRAM Auto Group:
We would like to speak with you about your rights and potential legal remedies in response to this data breach. Please fill out the form, below, or contact us at 872.263.1100 or sam@straussborrelli.com.
