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Village of Hoffman Estates Provides Notice of a Data Security Event
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Hoffman Estates, IL - 07/31/24: The Village of Hoffman Estates ("the Village") is providing notice of a data security event that may affect the security of information related to certain individuals. The Village is notifying individuals, which includes information about the event, the Village's response, and steps potentially impacted individuals may take. The confidentiality, privacy, and security of information is one of the Village's highest priorities and the Village takes this matter very seriously.
In October 2023, the Village discovered suspicious activity related to certain systems which resulted in a network outage. In response, the Village immediately took steps to secure its environment, launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the activity, and notified law enforcement. The investigation determined there was unauthorized access and/or acquisition of certain files and folders within the Village's network between October 16, 2023 and October 20, 2023. As a result, the Village undertook an extensive review of the involved files and folders to determine whether sensitive information may be impacted. This review was recently concluded and although the information varied by individual, the information determined to be involved includes name, date of birth, driver's license number, financial account information, medical information, health information, passport number and/or Social Security number.
The Village provided individuals with notice of this event whose information was involved and which the Village had address information to send them a letter. Although the Village does not have evidence to indicate that information was subject to actual or attempted misuse, the Village is providing individuals with complimentary credit monitoring services. The Village also reviewed existing security policies and implemented additional measures to further protect against similar incidents moving forward.
Individuals who believe they may be impacted by this event and have questions may contact the dedicated assistance line 1-833-918-9899 for more information between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individuals may also visit www.hoffmanestates.org.
The Village encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, and to monitor their credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.
Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.
As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer's name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:
1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone
bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state
driver's license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to
a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim
of identity theft.
Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:
Equifax
Experian
TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045
1-888-397-3742
1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester,
TX 75013 PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn,
TX 75013 PA 19094
Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.
Media Contact: Eric Palm (847) 781-2601
/PRNewswire -- July 31, 2024/
SOURCE Village of Hoffman Estates
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