Crime Stoppers chapter freezes tips after breach breaks anonymity promise

A breach exposed personal information in supposedly anonymous crime reports. Now one Crime Stoppers chapter has stopped accepting tips because it cannot guarantee anonymity. Toronto Crime Stoppers, which works with the community, police, and media to help solve crimes, has paused phone, website, and app submissions while it seeks a safer system. The breach occurred in March and involved P3 Global Intel, the Texas-based tip-management platform owned by Navigate360. Its software is used by Crime Stoppers programs and other organizations in the US and elsewhere. An October CBC investigation revealed the Canadian impact: More than 1.5 million tips spanning 25 years were exposed, with over 850,000 containing personal information. That included addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and some banking details associated with rewards. The exposed details belonged to tipsters, people named in allegations, and others, including police and Crime Stoppers staff. Following CBC’s reporting, Toronto Crime Stoppers acknowledged that its promise of anonymity had been broken for some users. The organization stopped accepting tips, saying it could no longer guarantee users’ anonymity. In an October 21 statement , the organization says identifying details are normally removed before tips reach investigators, but some original submissions containing potentially identifying information were stolen from P3. For affected tipsters, exposure could create a risk of retaliation, intimidation, or extortion. Scammers could also use details of a genuine tip to make an approach more convincing. Unfortunately, the pause removes a reporting option for people afraid to approach police. Toronto police still accept reports directly, but warn that those channels are not anonymous. How to stay safe Toronto Crime Stoppers warned people worried about exposure to watch for impersonators. It says it will never contact them first to request a tip number, password, or other information. The statement did not describe an individual notification process or offer a way to check whether a particular tip was affected. For anyone wanting to submit a new tip, the organization’s message was clear: “Until we have a safer way to protect you, please do not send us tips by phone, online, or through the app.” Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. During the pause, non-emergency reports in Toronto should go directly to Toronto police, with the understanding that those channels are not anonymous. If you use a different Crime Stoppers program, check its official website for updates and advice about its reporting system. For more general advice if your information may have been exposed, read our blog “ Involved in a data breach? Here’s what you need to know .” What do cybercriminals know about you? Use Malwarebytes’ free Digital Footprint scan to see whether your personal information has been exposed online. About the author Was a Microsoft MVP in consumer security for 12 years running. Can speak four languages. Smells of rich mahogany and leather-bound books.