Hackers Obtain Names, Social Security Numbers For 78K In Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD — The names and Social Security numbers of 78,000 Marylanders were accessed by hackers who breached Maryland Department of Labor databases, state officials said July 5. While customers whose personal information was accessed are just now being notified, the breach happened in April and involved data files from 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014.

State investigators have found no evidence that the personal information was downloaded. The files breached were stored on the Literacy Works Information System and an old unemployment insurance service database, according to a news release.

The Department of Labor is contacting the customers whose data was exposed and encouraging them to monitor their accounts. Those who have been affected will be offered two years of free credit monitoring.

Customers who believe they have been affected can contact the Department of Labor's dedicated hotline by e-mailing dataincident.labor@maryland.gov or calling 410-767-5899. This hotline will be staffed Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For additional information, visit the Maryland Department of Labor data hotline web page.

Hacked files stored on the Literacy Works Information System may have contained first names, last names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, city or county of residence, graduation dates and record numbers. The files affected on the unemployment insurance service database were from 2013 and may have included first names, last names, and Social Security numbers.

The department's protocols and security measures have been reviewed to prevent similar incidents.

Consumers who believe they may have been affected by this breach should immediately take the following steps to protect their information:

How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Review your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies twice per year. You can stagger them so you are looking at a fresh report every two months. Under Maryland and federal law, you are entitled to two free credit reports from each of the credit reporting agencies each year. Go to www.annualcreditreport.comor call 1-877-322-8228 to access your report through the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. You must contact each of the three Credit Reporting Agencies individually to access your credit report under Maryland law: Equifax: 1-800-685-1111; Experian: 1-888-397-3742; TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289.

Consumer Credit "Security Freezes"

A "security freeze" or "credit freeze" completely blocks the information on your credit report from would-be creditors. A credit freeze can help prevent identity theft. Most businesses will not open credit accounts without first checking a consumer's credit history. If your credit files are frozen, even someone who has your name and Social Security number might not be able to get credit in your name. Maryland law prohibits credit reporting agencies from charging more than $5 per credit freeze. Anyone who is a victim of identity theft will be able to freeze his or her credit reports for free.

For more information, check out the guide on freezing your credit report.

The Office of the Attorney General has an Identity Theft Unit that offers guidance and assistance. Information about protecting yourself or your children against identity theft, and what to do if it occurs, can be found at www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/IdentityTheft/default.aspx.

If consumers feel they have been harmed and want to file a complaint, they may call the Attorney General's Identity Theft Unit at 410-576-6491.

Comments are closed.