For Immediate Release
January 19, 2012
For more information, contact:
Sara Arif
Director of Public Affairs
Kansas Department on Aging
785.296.6681
Department Notifies Customers of Information Breach
Topeka, Kansas-- The Kansas Department on Aging (KDOA) is attempting to notify customers of a potential breach to their personal and protected health information. On January 12, 2012 a laptop computer, flash drive, and paper files were stolen from a secured vehicle used by an employee in Wichita, Kansas. The files, which contained personal and protected health information, primarily involved customers located in Sedgwick, Harvey, and Butler counties. The theft was immediately reported to the Wichita Police Department and the Kansas Department on Aging continues to actively work with the police in this matter. To date the stolen laptop, flash drive, and paper files have not been recovered. At the present time there is no evidence to indicate that the information has been accessed and misused.
The stolen data and documents may include full customer names, complete addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers, gender, in home services program participation information, Medicaid identification numbers, case management location and case manager names and telephone numbers. No banking, credit card, or driver license information was involved. All involved customers identified will be sent an individual letter explaining the situation and the department has attempted to notify those customers whose social security numbers were compromised by phone.
Customers are encouraged to check the KDOA website at www.agingkansas.org for information which will be posted as it becomes available. Customers and other interested persons may also contact KDOA by telephone without incurring charges at 1-855-477-0395.
“We are immediately reviewing policies and procedures relevant to information security, especially for those employees whose duties require travel off-site to prevent a similar situation from reoccurring,” stated Secretary Shawn Sullivan of the Department on Aging.
Customers can take additional action to protect themselves:
- Some state laws allow customers to place a security freeze on their credit reports. This would prohibit a credit reporting agency from releasing any information from a credit report without the customer’s written permission. Customers may also order one free copy of their credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus listed below. In addition, customers may place a fraud alert on their credit reports to help prevent someone from opening additional accounts in the customer’s name or changing an existing account.
Equifax Experian Trans Union Corp.
PO BOX 740250 PO Box 1017 Fraud Assistance Division
Atlanta, GA 30374 Allen, TX 75013 PO Box 6790
(800) 685-1111 (888) 397-3742 Fullerton, CA 92834
Equifax.com Experian.com (800) 916-8800
TransUnion.com
- Customers are advised to carefully review all of their bills and report anything suspicious to the companies involved. If a customer believes that someone has made use of information without permission, they may contact their local police department. Customers should not give out any personal information to people they don’t know, especially those who call them on the telephone, regardless of whom the callers claim to be or what they may claim to already know about a customer.
- Customers should watch their mail and report anything suspicious which discusses merchandise, credit cards, or anything else they didn’t order or apply for. Customers can also let their bank and credit card companies know that a state computer, which may contain personal information about them, was stolen. This will allow banks and credit card companies to assist in spotting any suspicious activity which might occur concerning customer accounts.
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The Kansas Department on Aging’s mission is to foster an environment which; promotes security, dignity, and independence, while providing the right care, at the right time, in a place called home.