Breach Help CenterMA · Feb 22, 2025

Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA Data Security Incident

Investigation Open

Reported to the MA Attorney General on February 22, 2025.

MA residents may qualify for compensation. Free attorney review — no obligation, no upfront cost.

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§ I

What Happened

Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA was responsible for safeguarding the personal data of its customers and employees. According to a MA state filing, Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA experienced a data security incident affecting an undisclosed number of individuals, exposing financial account information and payment data. Legal proceedings relating to this breach are ongoing.

Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA was required under the Massachusetts Data Security Law (201 CMR 17.00) to implement reasonable security measures to protect the personal information it collected. When those measures fail and personal data is exposed to unauthorized parties, the law provides remedies for affected individuals — regardless of whether those individuals have yet experienced fraud or identity theft as a direct result.

Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA is a professional accounting and financial services firm that handles sensitive client documentation, tax records, and corporate financial data. In the course of providing accounting, auditing, and tax preparation services, the firm routinely collects and stores confidential personal information, including names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and comprehensive financial account details. In 2025, the firm officially reported a data breach to the Massachusetts Attorney General after unauthorized access to its network environments was identified. Individuals who received a formal data breach notification letter from the firm have been alerted that their personal or financial information may have been compromised. This page provides affected clients with essential context regarding the security incident, the categories of data potentially exposed, and recommended steps to protect their identities.
§ II

Case Facts & Filing Record

State Filed
MA
Date Reported to AG
Feb 22, 2025
Date of Breach
Not disclosed
Records Affected
Not disclosed
Filing Status
Investigation Open
Last Updated
Aug 8, 2026
Data Types Exposed
NameSocial Security NumberDate of BirthAddressFinancial Account InformationTax Return InformationContact Information
§ III

Risk Analysis — Exposed Data

Based on the data types reported in this filing, affected individuals face the following specific risks:

Identity Theftcritical

Your SSN is the master key to your identity. Once exposed, criminals can open new lines of credit, take out loans, or file taxes in your name.

Identity Verification Bypassmedium

Combined with a name and other leaked data, date of birth helps criminals pass identity verification questions at banks and government agencies.

Physical Security Riskmedium

Home address exposure can enable mail theft, package fraud, and targeted phishing attacks that reference your known location.

§ IV

Who Was Impacted?

Under the Massachusetts Data Security Law (201 CMR 17.00), you may have a legal claim against Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA if any of the following apply:

  • You received a written data breach notification letter from Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA
  • You are or were a customer, patient, or employee of Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA
  • Your information was held by Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA in MA
  • Your bank or payment card data was potentially exposed

Applicable law: This breach was reported under the Massachusetts Data Security Law (201 CMR 17.00), which establishes your right to seek damages from Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA.

§ V

What the Law Gives You — Compensation Available

01
Lost Time & Remediation Costs

The hours spent responding to a data breach — canceling accounts, contacting credit bureaus, updating passwords, and investigating fraud — represent compensable economic harm in data breach litigation.

02
Identity Theft Protection Costs

Once your SSN is exposed, protection becomes an ongoing expense. Plaintiffs in data breach settlements have recovered costs for credit freezes, identity protection subscriptions, and time spent dealing with fraudulent accounts — sometimes covering multiple years of exposure.

03
Banking & Account Fees

Fees charged to close and reopen accounts, issue replacement cards, or dispute fraudulent transactions are recoverable in data breach litigation. So are the costs of overdrafts, late payments, and credit damage caused by unauthorized activity.

04
Emotional Distress

Data breach victims regularly report anxiety, loss of sleep, and ongoing fear of identity theft. These non-economic harms are cognizable injuries in data breach litigation, particularly in cases involving SSN or medical record exposure.

§ VI

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need proof that my data was misused to file a claim against Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA?

No. Under Massachusetts Data Security Law (201 CMR 17.00) and federal law, the unauthorized exposure of your personal data — regardless of whether it has been actively misused — can be sufficient grounds for a claim. The breach itself is the injury.

How much does filing a claim cost?

Nothing. The Law Office of David S. Harris handles data breach cases on contingency — you pay zero upfront and owe nothing unless compensation is recovered.

My Social Security Number was exposed. What should I do right now?

Immediately place a free credit freeze at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). A freeze blocks new accounts from being opened in your name. Then file a complaint with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and contact our office — SSN exposure is one of the most serious breach types.

My financial account data was exposed. Can the bank recover my losses?

Banks may reverse fraudulent charges, but they are not obligated to compensate you for time lost, stress, or indirect damages. A class action claim against the breached company can recover those additional categories of harm.

Is it too late to file a claim?

Statutes of limitations for data breach claims vary by state but typically run 2–4 years. Depending on when you learned of the breach, you may still have time. Contact our office for a free eligibility review — there is no cost to find out.

What if Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA offered me free credit monitoring after the breach?

Accepting free credit monitoring from Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA does not waive your right to pursue legal action unless you signed a specific release waiving claims. In most cases, victims who accepted monitoring can still file.

Do I need to have received a notice letter to be eligible?

Not necessarily. Many data breach victims are never notified directly. If your personal information was held by Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA during the relevant period, you may still qualify even without receiving a letter. A free eligibility review can confirm your status.

Received a notification letter from Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA?

Read our dedicated guide — what the letter means and exactly what to do.

Read Letter Guide →
§ VII

Submit Your Free Case Review

If you were affected by the Moore, Ellison & McDuffie, CPAs, PA data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. Submit your information below for a free attorney review — no obligation, no upfront cost.

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Source: State Attorney General filing, MA

View Official AG Filing →

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