INDIANA COMPUTER STOLEN http://www.pal-item.com/article/20110511/NEWS01/105110315
Stolen Reid Hospital computer raises concerns of ID theft
Whom to Contact
If you think you might have been a victim of identity theft, contact one of the following credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert:
• TransUnion: (800) 680-7289 or www.transunion.com
• Equifax: (800) 525-6285 or www.equifax.com
• Experian: (888) 397-3742 or www.experian.com
To request a free annual credit report, contact:
• AnnualCreditReport.com: (877) 322-8228What To Do
The Federal Trade Commission recommends the following steps for anyone who thinks they might
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports;
• Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently;
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission;
• File a report with local police or police where identity theft took place.With information for about 20,000 patients floating around on a computer stolen from the home of a Reid Hospital employee, the possibility of identity theft is very real.Reid officials this week confirmed the files were on the stolen computer and sent letters to all patients they say were contained on the list. The hospital also says it has no reason to believe the information has been compromised and that it was not the target of the April 4 burglary.But Richmond resident Robert Willett says that is of little consolation for anyone who could be affected by the incident."When I worked in Vandalia, Ohio, I had my identity stolen and I can tell you the kind of problems it can cause," said Willett, who said he has not received a letter from Reid but is concerned for others who have. "It is Reid's responsibility to take care of that information. It should not have gotten out of the hospital."Reid spokesman Larry Price said the computer was password protected and no one has reported identity theft. Some Reid Hospital employees were included in the list. They have been monitoring their credit and have not had any suspicious activity reported."People don't know it, but it is very common in hospitals and in other areas of business as well to have a person work at home," Price said.The information on the computer was limited to names, Social Security numbers and some reports on Medicaid and Medicare patients who received services from 1999-2008. Price confirmed Tuesday no information about private insurance or financial information for non-Medicaid and non-Medicare patients was in the files.Police have not recovered the computer. According to a local computer expert, breaking the password and getting access to the information isn't likely."The average person would have no idea how to do it," said Mike Dickerson, owner and president of Summit Computers in Richmond, who said his company does work on computers for Reid Hospital."If you get someone who is techie, they could do it. But (the people who stole the computer) aren't the type of people who will have the skills or intelligence to do those things."PagePage 2 of 2)
Reid still is encouraging anyone who might have been affected to take precautions."Anyone who received a letter, we ask them to place a fraud alert," Price said. "And we suggest they check their credit report. Everyone is entitled to one free report a year."Price said the hospital is re-evaluating its policies concerning information that is allowed to be taken home. He also said plans were in place to enhance the security on all computers operated by hospital employees."There were already things under way to prevent this from happening," Price said. "They were installing security to limit access to all computers -- and that started before all of this happened."Reid officials sent letters after conducting an investigation into the burglary and determining from back-up systems what was on the computer. They also were required by law to work with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and state officials to investigate the incident and report what happened to those affected within 60 days."With health care files, they are required to report information to HIPAA, and since they are a non-profit, there are state requirements that they must follow as well," said Claudia Bourne Farrell, a spokeswoman for the Federal Trade Commission, which oversees identity theft issues. "I just cannot imagine losing control of 20,000 patient files."The FTC provides information for individuals who fear they have been a victim of identity on theft on its website,www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.Page
Whom to Contact
If you think you might have been a victim of identity theft, contact one of the following credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert:
• TransUnion: (800) 680-7289 or www.transunion.com
• Equifax: (800) 525-6285 or www.equifax.com
• Experian: (888) 397-3742 or www.experian.com
To request a free annual credit report, contact:
• AnnualCreditReport.com: (877) 322-8228
• TransUnion: (800) 680-7289 or www.transunion.com
• Equifax: (800) 525-6285 or www.equifax.com
• Experian: (888) 397-3742 or www.experian.com
To request a free annual credit report, contact:
• AnnualCreditReport.com: (877) 322-8228
What To Do
The Federal Trade Commission recommends the following steps for anyone who thinks they might
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports;
• Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently;
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission;
• File a report with local police or police where identity theft took place.
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports;
• Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently;
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission;
• File a report with local police or police where identity theft took place.
With information for about 20,000 patients floating around on a computer stolen from the home of a Reid Hospital employee, the possibility of identity theft is very real.
Reid officials this week confirmed the files were on the stolen computer and sent letters to all patients they say were contained on the list. The hospital also says it has no reason to believe the information has been compromised and that it was not the target of the April 4 burglary.
But Richmond resident Robert Willett says that is of little consolation for anyone who could be affected by the incident.
"When I worked in Vandalia, Ohio, I had my identity stolen and I can tell you the kind of problems it can cause," said Willett, who said he has not received a letter from Reid but is concerned for others who have. "It is Reid's responsibility to take care of that information. It should not have gotten out of the hospital."
Reid spokesman Larry Price said the computer was password protected and no one has reported identity theft. Some Reid Hospital employees were included in the list. They have been monitoring their credit and have not had any suspicious activity reported.
"People don't know it, but it is very common in hospitals and in other areas of business as well to have a person work at home," Price said.
The information on the computer was limited to names, Social Security numbers and some reports on Medicaid and Medicare patients who received services from 1999-2008. Price confirmed Tuesday no information about private insurance or financial information for non-Medicaid and non-Medicare patients was in the files.
Police have not recovered the computer. According to a local computer expert, breaking the password and getting access to the information isn't likely.
"The average person would have no idea how to do it," said Mike Dickerson, owner and president of Summit Computers in Richmond, who said his company does work on computers for Reid Hospital.
"If you get someone who is techie, they could do it. But (the people who stole the computer) aren't the type of people who will have the skills or intelligence to do those things."
Page
Page 2 of 2)
Reid still is encouraging anyone who might have been affected to take precautions.
"Anyone who received a letter, we ask them to place a fraud alert," Price said. "And we suggest they check their credit report. Everyone is entitled to one free report a year."
Price said the hospital is re-evaluating its policies concerning information that is allowed to be taken home. He also said plans were in place to enhance the security on all computers operated by hospital employees.
"There were already things under way to prevent this from happening," Price said. "They were installing security to limit access to all computers -- and that started before all of this happened."
Reid officials sent letters after conducting an investigation into the burglary and determining from back-up systems what was on the computer. They also were required by law to work with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and state officials to investigate the incident and report what happened to those affected within 60 days.
"With health care files, they are required to report information to HIPAA, and since they are a non-profit, there are state requirements that they must follow as well," said Claudia Bourne Farrell, a spokeswoman for the Federal Trade Commission, which oversees identity theft issues. "I just cannot imagine losing control of 20,000 patient files."
The FTC provides information for individuals who fear they have been a victim of identity on theft on its website,www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.
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