California-based AltaMed Health Services is notifying nearly 3,000 individuals that a former temporary employee is being investigated by law enforcement for possibly accessing and misusing AltaMed records as part of an identity theft ring.
How many victims? 2,995.
What type of personal information? Names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, provider information, and insurance information.
What happened? During the course of an ongoing law enforcement investigation involving a former temporary AltaMed employee, law enforcement disclosed that it recovered a hard drive and other evidence that may contain AltaMed records. Law enforcement believes the information may have been misused as part of an identity theft ring.
What was the response? AltaMed launched an investigation, which is ongoing, and is taking measures to ensure a similar incident does not occur again. All impacted individuals are being notified.
Details: AltaMed learned of the law enforcement investigation on June 30. The former temporary employee had access to records and documents primarily used for marketing purposes. The organization's investigation revealed that the former temporary employee may have accessed electronic and paper records relating to individuals that attended one of its community events in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. No arrests have been made.
Source: www.altamed.org, “California healthcare provider acts to notify individuals of potential personal information access related to former employee,” Aug. 30, 2014.
