Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is launching an investigation into National Public Data following last week's reports of a widespread data breach.

National Public Data is a background check company that allows customers access to search billions of records.

In a press release, Bailey said the company failed to safeguard Missourians' personal information, including social security numbers, past addresses and other private records.

“Companies have a duty under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act to safeguard Missourians’ personally identifiable information, and Missourians deserve to know whether their information is at risk," said Bailey. "No stone will be left unturned in this investigation.”

Last week, reports of a widespread data breach claimed a cybercriminal group gained access to National Public Data’s network of information and exfiltrated the unencrypted data of 2.9 billion people. The criminal group allegedly put the database up for sale for $3.5 million.

Bailey has filed similar lawsuits in defense of Missourians personal data before, including suits against companies like Experian, T-Mobile and cloud computing provider Blackbaud.

The attorney general's office is asking any Missourian who believes they may have been affected by the data breach to call its consumer protection hotline at 1-800-392-8222, or submit a complaint online.