The ShinyHunters cybercrime group claims it breached Florida’s motor vehicle agency and is threatening to release stolen information unless officials respond by September 11, 2026. The group added a “State of Florida DMV” entry to its dark web leak site and reportedly published a sample record allegedly taken from Florida’s Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID).
The sample reportedly contains an expired driver record belonging to Jeffrey Epstein, including sensitive personal, identification, address, and vehicle information. ShinyHunters later updated its listing with a “final warning” directed at the agency.
DAVID stores sensitive driver’s license, vehicle title, and license plate registration records. However, Florida officials have not confirmed that a breach occurred, and the hackers’ claims remain unverified. If confirmed, the incident could raise serious concerns about identity theft and the security of government-held personal data.
HOW CAN FLORIDA RESIDENTS PROTECT THEIR ACCOUNTS
Florida residents should closely monitor their bank accounts, credit reports, and online profiles for unfamiliar activity. Consider placing a free fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Drivers should also remain cautious of phishing emails, text messages, or phone calls claiming to come from the Florida DMV, especially messages requesting payments, passwords, Social Security numbers, or verification codes.
Use strong, unique passwords for every account and enable multifactor authentication whenever possible. If suspicious activity appears, change affected passwords immediately, contact the appropriate financial institution, and report possible identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov. Because the alleged breach remains unconfirmed, residents should rely on official Florida agency announcements for updates and avoid downloading supposed leaked records.