Hackers leak Citigroup CEO’s personal data after Occupy Wall Street arrests

October 18, 2011 By Andrew Couts

Addresses, phone numbers and other personal data of Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit have been leaked by hacker group CabinCr3w after two dozen Occupy Wall Street protesters were arrested at a Citibank location.

In retaliation for the arrest of protesters who tried to close their Citibank accounts, hackers sympathetic to the Occupy Wall Street movement have released personal information about Citigroup Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit.

Data, including cell and office phone numbers, an email address, two home addresses, legal and financial information and information about Pandit’s family, were all posted online by members of a hacker group known as CabinCr3w. The group affiliates itself with the loose-knit group Anonymous, which has a long history of high-profile hacks and data leaks.

Anonymous members played a key role in promoting the original Occupy Wall Street protest, which began on September 17. A month later, the Occupy movement has spread to more than 900 cities around the world, primarily through the use of Twitter and other social media and Internet properties.

“During Occupy Wall street, protesters had made way to CitiBank to withdraw their funds and close their accounts,” wrote CabinCr3w on their Tumblr blog. “They were met with strong police prescence [sic] and arrested. We as american citizens MUST have full control over our money and lively hood. When this is taken away from us, what else do we have? So the CEO of CitiBank has blindly jumped into the sights of the CabinCr3w…”

This weekend, a small group of Occupy Wall Street protesters moved their fight to a Citibank in downtown Manhattan, where they attempted to close their bank accounts as an act of protest. According to the Wall Street Journal, 24 people in the group were arrested for criminal trespassing after they refused to leave the Citibank branch.

“A large amount of protesters entered our branch at 555 La Guardia Place around 2:00 PM today,” said Citigroup in a prepared statement. “They were very disruptive and refused to leave after being repeatedly asked, causing our staff to call 911. The Police asked the branch staff to close the branch until the protesters could be removed. Only one person asked to close an account and was accommodated.”

Last week, Pandit said he would be happy to meet with Occupy Wall Street protesters, who blame the financial sector for the bad economy, and oppose its influence on US politics, reports Businessweek. He said their complaints are “completely understandable.”

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Showing 2 comments

Vladimir Bogdanov at 1:13am 20th October 2011 I see a major class action lawsuit in the works here. I would personally sue the bank for unlawful confinement, arrest, and injury to a person. And that business suit lady there? The arresting officer was clearly groping her. He had no cause and/or reason to arrest her and especially grope her breasts in that manner. A female duty officer must have been summoned to execute the arrest if it was lawful. As such, the police officers as well as the bank must be sued no doubt there.
jesterking at 9:11am 19th October 2011 yeah, that's not entirely true. I saw the videos. They weren't "disruptive" or even loud. They all asked to close their accounts, and most all were refused. Even after they had left the premiss, police arrested them, for simply "being there", even though they had proof they were customers, and did business with the bank.