Deutsche Telekom Seeks Stolen Data on 17 Million Mobile Users

FRANKFURT(Reuters) – Thieves have hijacked sensitive data on millions ofDeutsche Telekom mobile phone customers, the German company hasacknowledged in its second major security scandal this year.

The incident stems from a theft of data in 2006 that only came tolight now in a report by Der Spiegel magazine released ahead ofpublication on Monday. The magazine said it was able to track downinformation on 17 million Telekom mobile users.

"Apart from names, addresses and cell phone numbers, the data, insome cases, also include the date of birth or e-mail addresses,"Deutsche Telekom said at the weekend. "The records do not contain bankdetails, credit card numbers or call data."

Deutsche Telekom said it reported the theft to prosecutors in early2006 and had found no evidence that the records were used to harassusers or were otherwise abused by the thieves.

The data could nonetheless pose a security threat for prominentpoliticians, business leaders and clergy whose personal details leakedout.

The interior ministry has asked investigators to analyze thepotential danger to several people, a ministry spokeswoman said, butshe declined to give any more details.

Telekom said it had tightened security since the theft. It offeredto let mobile phone customers change their numbers at no charge and setup a toll-free hotline to handle queries.

The case generated more bad headlines for Deutsche Telekom, which inMay said it uncovered illegal monitoring in 2005 of call records amidclaims management spied on rebel directors and journalists to find outwho was leaking information.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation in that case.

(Reporting by Jonathan Gould and Michael Shields; Editing by Erica Billingham)