Risk: Informational
Hewlett Packard is in trouble after a contractor hired to uncover the source of boardroom leaks to the media allegedly used sensitive information to access phone company computers and get the calling records of nine reporters without authorisation.
The call records were obtained using 'pretexting', a method of information gathering widely used by private investigators and ID scammers. It involves tricking a member of staff of a telecoms company to disclose private information, usually by pretending to be the customer.
At first, Chairman Patricia Dunn said: "The board was assured that the methods used by the investigative firm were legal and proper, prior to commencing the investigation." She subsequently agreed to resign, then issued a videotaped message to employees, stating that not only was pretexting used on HP directors and journalists but also on two HP employees: "These techniques were practiced on a number of individuals including certain directors, two employees and a number of individuals outside the company, including journalists."