Hackers claim to have UnitedHealth's stolen data - is it a bluff?

FILE PHOTO: The corporate logo of the UnitedHealth Group appears on the side of one of their office buildings in Santa Ana, California, U.S., April 13, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A freshly formed hacking gang claims to have won access to a massive stash of data stolen from UnitedHealth Group, the largest U.S. health insurer, but with little evidence to go on it is not clear whether they are telling the truth.

Hackers walloped UnitedHealth in February, paralyzing billions of dollars worth of health insurance payments across the country. The ransomware gang "Blackcat" initially said on its website that it had stolen 8 terabytes of sensitive records - including medical insurance and health data - only to swiftly delete the statement without explanation.