PENNSYLVANIA COMPUTER CONTAINING PERSONAL DATA STOLEN Indiana Gazette Online - Personal data stolen

Personal data stolen

Written by The Indiana Gazette

Sunday, 16 December 2007

The Department of Aging has begun notifying 20,632 people across Indiana, Union, Snyder and Clearfield counties that their personal information was on a notebook computer stolen from a residence in Johnstown Dec. 5, according to a state news release. The state-owned notebook was issued to a department employee who was attending a funeral in Johnstown, and the theft was discovered when the employee returned from the service, according to the news release. "In addition to notifying potentially affected clients, we want to reassure them that the department is taking every possible precaution to protect them," said Secretary of Aging Nora Dowd Eisenhower in the release. "I offer my sincere apology to our clients, and I pledge we will work to address any concerns that they may have as a result of this unfortunate accident." The data included personal information for clients receiving services through the area Agencies on Aging as well as Social Security numbers for about 16,000 those clients. The news release said that police suspect the computer was taken only for its street value, and there is no evidence the double-password-protected data has been accessed or used inappropriately. The department reported that it has contracted with TransUnion, a national credit reporting bureau, to help protect the information of the affected customers by placing a fraud alert on their credit records. TransUnion will also provide credit monitoring services to those who request it. Consumers with questions or those who believe they may have been affected may called the Pennsylvania Department of Aging helpline toll free at (866) 592-8622.