When news of the PeopleCheck data breach broke, many people thought: “Who?” If you’ve never heard of them, you’re not alone. But here’s why you could still be affected – and why it matters.
Who are PeopleCheck?
PeopleCheck is a background screening provider. They check the personal information of job applicants on behalf of employers. This includes:
- Identity verification
- Employment history
- Criminal record checks
- Education verification
If you’ve applied for a job in the last year, especially for roles in financial services, tech, or professional sectors, there’s a chance PeopleCheck processed your data without you even realising.
How can my data be involved if I didn’t give it to PeopleCheck?
When you apply for a job, the employer often uses a third-party company to carry out screening. PeopleCheck is one of those companies. Your potential employer would have passed your details to them during the hiring process.
Why does this matter?
The hackers didn’t just steal basic information – they got:
- Names, addresses, dates of birth
- Phone numbers and email addresses
- Social Security numbers, internal references
- Login credentials, two-factor codes, and profile pictures
- Invoice and payment records (relates mainly to employer transactions, not job applicants)
With this level of detail, the risk of identity fraud and scams is very real. Find out how to protect yourself in our handy guide.
Can I claim compensation?
Yes, you can still claim even if you’ve never dealt with PeopleCheck directly. UK law allows you to hold any company handling your data accountable if it’s exposed due to poor security. If you applied for a role at a company using PeopleCheck between June 2024 and June 2025, you may have a case.
Join the Claim connects consumers with SRA-regulated lawyers. Visit the claim page to check your eligibility if a claim is open with one of our trusted legal partners. If a group action has not yet been launched, you can register your interest and we’ll keep you informed if a partner firm decides to take a claim forward.
