Capital One breach among largest

Woman accused of stealing millions of sensitive records.

WASHINGTON — The FBI has arrested a Seattle-area woman on charges of stealing tens of millions of sensitive customer records from Capital One, the Virginia-based bank with a popular credit card business, including some bank account numbers, according to court papers.

The suspect, Paige Thompson, was arrested early Monday on a charge of computer fraud and abuse, court records say.

Thompson, who authorities say used the name “erratic” in online conversations, is suspected of “exfiltrating and stealing information, including credit card applications and other documents, from Capital One,” according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court. She was ordered to remain in jail pending a detention hearing Thursday, according to court records.

The Capital One hack disclosed Monday appears to be one of the largest data breaches ever to hit a financial services firm. In 2017, the credit-reporting company Equifax disclosed that hackers had stolen the personal information of 147 million people. Last week, it reached a $700 million settlement with U.S. regulators.

It is unusual in a major hacking case for a suspect to be apprehended so quickly, and in this case, that was apparently due to boasts made online.

Thompson “made statements on social media for evidencing the fact that she has information of Capital One, and that she recognizes that she has acted illegally,” according to the criminal complaint signed by FBI special agent Joel Martini.