IF YOUR INFORMATION WAS INCLUDED IN THE STOLEN DATA, Paul & Sugerman recommends you take the following steps to protect your credit:
Contact the fraud department of any one of the three major credit bureaus. Have a fraud alert placed on your file. Whichever credit bureau you contact will notify the other two. Be sure to ask when the fraud alert will expire, and renew as needed. Also ask about ordering a free credit report.
Request a free copy of your credit report. You may call 1-877-322-8228 (toll free) or visit www.annualcreditreport.com to get a free copy of your credit report. Review the information on your credit report carefully to see if any unauthorized changes have been made to your existing accounts. Save a copy for your records.
If you find a problem on your credit report, contact the business where the fraudulent charge occurred. Talk to someone in that business's security or fraud department.
If the fraud is confirmed, you should file a police report. Contact your local police station to file a report (non-emergency phone number). Ask for a copy of the police report, and keep it with your records.
| Credit bureau | Phone Number for fraud alert | Web site |
|---|---|---|
| Equifax | 800-525-6285 | www.equifax.com |
| Experian | 888-397-3742 | www.experian.com |
| TransUnion | 800-680-7289 | www.transunion.com |
IF YOU DON'T KNOW whether your information was included in the stolen data:
You should contact the Providence Home Services call center, at 1-888-284-8997. Providence established this call center to help patients who may have been affected by the data theft.
You may also wish to visit the Providence website for information on the data theft: www.providence.org/oregon/hcs
FILING REPORTS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Health Information Privacy Complaint: You may wish to file a health information privacy complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacyhowtofile.htm Links are included to find the proper regional office for filing your complaint. Or you may call 1-800-368-1019 for information on filing a health information privacy complaint.
Federal Trade Commission: The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. For information on filing a complaint, visit: www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call the FTC Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
Social Security Administration: For more information about theft and misuse of your social security number, please see Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html or you may call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
U.S. Postal Service: If you are a victim of identity theft and the crime involved the U.S. Mail (such as a false change of address), you should contact your nearest U.S. Postal Inspection Service office and report it. For more information, please see Identity Theft at www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub280/welcome.htm and If You Think You're a Victim of Identity Theft, Here's What You Should Do at www.usps.com/postalinspectors/ifvictim.htm
The Seattle division covers Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho:
Seattle Division
PO Box 400
Seattle, WA 98111-4000
Phone: 206-442-6300
Fax: 206-442-6304Police Report: You may wish to file a report with your local police. Check your local phone book for the number. Be sure to call the non-emergency phone number.
FOR WASHINGTON RESIDENTS:
Washington consumers whose personal information was potentially compromised in the recent Providence Home Services data security breach have the right to request a credit report security freeze. For more information see Consumer Alert: Tipts for Washington Consumers Affected by Providence Home Services Security Breach at www.atg.wa.gov/releases/2006/Alert_Consumer_Tips_011706.html and Washington's Security Freeze Law at www.atg.wa.gov/consumer/idprivacy/security_freeze.shtml or call the Attorney General's Office at 1-800-551-4636.