Ellafi Federal Credit Union Breach Affects 17,627 & Exposes Social Security Numbers

Connecticut-based Ellafi Federal Credit Union recently experienced a data breach that has affected over seventeen thousand people. The breach, which was the result of a ransomware attack attributed to the Akira group, has compromised sensitive personal and financial information.

On Oct. 14, 2025, the credit union detected a network disruption and immediately began an investigation with the help of cybersecurity experts. It was later determined that unauthorized individuals had accessed and potentially acquired certain files from the organization’s systems. By Nov. 20, 2025, Ellafi Federal Credit Union learned that these files contained personal information belonging to members and customers.

The breach exposed a wide range of personally identifiable information (PII), including names, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers and debit card numbers.

According to the disclosure filed with the Maine Attorney General’s office, a total of 17,627 individuals in the United States were affected, with 40 of those residing in Maine.

The severity of the breach is underscored by the fact that the Akira ransomware group publicly claimed responsibility for the attack on Nov. 3, 2025, posting on the Tor network that they had obtained 17 GB of data. The stolen data reportedly included not only customer and employee information, but also W-9 forms, contracts, confidential files, accounting and financial documents, HR files and non-disclosure agreements.

This type of information is highly sensitive and may be used for identity theft or fraud if misused.

Ellafi Federal Credit Union notified affected individuals electronically on Dec. 23, 2025. The incident was officially disclosed to regulators on Dec. 27, 2025.

Ellafi Federal Credit Union's response

In the wake of the breach, Ellafi Federal Credit Union took immediate action to contain the incident and assess its impact. The organization brought in cybersecurity experts to investigate, conducted a comprehensive review of affected files and implemented enhanced security measures to minimize the risk of future incidents. The credit union also notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is cooperating with any ongoing investigations.

To support those affected, Ellafi Federal Credit Union is offering complimentary identity protection services through IDX. These services include 12 months of credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, a $1 million identity fraud loss reimbursement policy and fully managed identity theft recovery services. Impacted individuals have until March 23, 2026, to enroll in these services.

Given the nature of the information exposed, it is important for affected individuals to remain vigilant. Recommended steps include:

• Reviewing account statements and credit reports for suspicious activity
• Placing a fraud alert or security freeze on credit files with major credit bureaus
• Reporting any signs of identity theft or fraud to law enforcement, the FTC or the state attorney general

For more information, individuals can refer to the detailed resources and contact information provided in the official notice to consumers.