Notice of Data Security Incident:
Stromsburg, Nebraska –
UPDATE September 16, 2024
September 16, 2024 – Midwest Covenant Home (“MCH”) is providing the following updated notice regarding a recent data security Incident that may have resulted in unauthorized access to some individuals’ personal information. This supplemental notice is intended to provide additional details about the Incident, steps we are taking in response, and resources available to help protect against the potential misuse of personal information.
What Happened? On April 29, 2024, MCH experienced a network disruption that impacted the functionality and access of certain systems (the “Incident”). Upon discovery of this Incident, MCH immediately disconnected all access to the network and promptly engaged a specialized third-party cybersecurity firm and IT personnel to assist with securing the environment as well as to conduct a comprehensive forensic investigation to determine the nature and scope of the Incident. On May 21, 2024, the forensic investigation concluded that certain folders and files within MCH’s computer systems may have been subject to unauthorized access.
Based on this investigation, MCH conducted a comprehensive review of the accessed folders and files to identify which individuals’ personal information may been impacted. MCH completed its review on August 23, 2024. Subsequently, on September 13, 2024, formal notice letters were mailed to individuals whose information was impacted as a result of the Incident along with an offer for complimentary credit monitoring services.
What Information Was Involved? Based on the investigation, the following information belonging to MCH employees may have been subject to unauthorized access: first name; last name; date of birth; Social Security Number; and financial account information. In regard to MCH clients, the following information may have been subject to unauthorized access: first name; last name; date of birth; Social Security Number; medical information; health insurance information; financial information; and life insurance information. Please note the impacted information varies by the individual.
At this time, MCH has not received any reports of personal information being misused as a result of this Incident.
What We Are Doing Data privacy and security is among MCH’s highest priorities, and we are committed to doing everything we can to protect the privacy and security of the personal information in our care. Upon discovery of the Incident, MCH moved quickly to investigate and respond to the Incident and assessed the security of its systems. Specifically, MCH engaged a specialized cybersecurity firm and IT personnel to conduct a forensic investigation to determine the nature and scope of the Incident. Upon completion of its investigation, MCH provided notice of the Incident to the affected individuals along with an offer for complimentary credit monitoring services. Additionally, MCH took the following steps, including, but not limited to deploying endpoint security software; restored operations in a safe and secure manner; enhanced security measures; and took steps and will continue to take steps to mitigate the risk of future harm.
What You Can Do We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review your account statements, and to monitor your credit reports for suspicious or unauthorized activity. Additionally, security experts suggest that you contact your financial institution and all major credit bureaus to inform them of such a breach and then take whatever steps are recommended to protect your interests, including the possible placement of a fraud alert on your credit file. Please review the Additional Resources to Help Protect Your Information below, to learn more about how to protect against the possibility of information misuse.
Other Important Information We recognize that you may have questions not addressed in this notice. If you have any questions or concerns, please call 1-833-531-3276 (toll free) Monday through Friday, during the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Central Time (excluding U.S. national holidays).
MCH sincerely regrets any concern or inconvenience this matter may cause and remains dedicated to ensuring the privacy and security of all information in our control.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION
Monitor Your Accounts We recommend that you remain vigilant for incidents of fraud or identity theft by regularly reviewing your credit reports and financial accounts for any suspicious activity. You should contact the reporting agency using the phone number on the credit report if you find any inaccuracies with your information or if you do not recognize any of the account activity.
You may obtain a free copy of your credit report by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com, calling toll-free at 1-877-322-8228, or by mailing a completed Annual Credit Report Request Form (available at www.annualcreditreport.com) to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA, 30348-5281. You may also purchase a copy of your credit report for a fee by contacting one or more of the three national credit reporting agencies.
You have rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA governs the collection and use of information about you that is reported by consumer reporting agencies. You can obtain additional information about your rights under the FCRA by visiting https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act.
Credit Freeze You have the right to add, temporarily lift and remove a credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, on your credit report at no cost. A credit freeze prevents all third parties, such as credit lenders or other companies, whose use is not exempt under law, from accessing your credit file without your consent. If you have a freeze, you must remove or temporarily lift it to apply for credit. Spouses can request freezes for each other as long as they pass authentication. You can also request a freeze for someone if you have a valid Power of Attorney. If you are a parent/guardian/representative you can request a freeze for a minor 15 and younger. To add a security freeze on your credit report you must make a separate request to each of the three national consumer reporting agencies by phone, online, or by mail by following the instructions found at their websites (see “Contact Information” below). The following information must be included when requesting a security freeze: (i) full name, with middle initial and any suffixes; (ii) Social Security number; (iii) date of birth (month, day, and year); (iv) current address and any previous addresses for the past five (5) years; (v) proof of current address (such as a copy of a government-issued identification card, a recent utility or telephone bill, or bank or insurance statement); and (vi) other personal information as required by the applicable credit reporting agency.
Fraud Alert You have the right to add, extend, or remove a fraud alert on your credit file at no cost. A fraud alert is a statement that is added to your credit file that will notify potential credit grantors that you may be or have been a victim of identity theft. Before they extend credit, they should use reasonable procedures to verify your identity. Please note that, unlike a credit freeze, a fraud alert only notifies lenders to verify your identity before extending new credit, but it does not block access to your credit report. Fraud alerts are free to add and are valid for one year. Victims of identity theft can obtain an extended fraud alert for seven years. You can add a fraud alert by sending your request to any one of the three national reporting agencies by phone, online, or by mail by following the instructions found at their websites (see “Contact Information” below). The agency you contact will then contact the other credit agencies.
Contact Information Below is the contact information for the three national credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TranUnion) if you would like to add a fraud alert or credit freeze to your credit report.
|
Credit Reporting Agency |
Access Your Credit Report |
Add a Fraud Alert |
Add a Security Freeze |
|
Experian |
P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013-9701 1-866-200-6020 |
P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013-9554 1-888-397-3742 |
P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013-9554 1-888-397-3742 |
|
Equifax |
P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 1-866-349-5191 |
P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts |
P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 1-888-298-0045 |
|
TransUnion |
P.O. Box 1000 Chester, PA 19016-1000 1-800-888-4213 |
P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 1-800-680-7289 |
P.O. Box 160 Woodlyn, PA 19094 1-800-916-8800 |
Federal Trade Commission For more information about credit freezes and fraud alerts and other steps you can take to protect yourself against identity theft, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.identitytheft.gov, 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338), 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. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above.
You should also report instances of known or suspected identity theft to local law enforcement and the Attorney General’s office in your home state and you have the right to file a police report and obtain a copy of your police report.
Maryland residents can obtain information about steps they can take to avoid identity theft by contacting the FTC (contact information provided above) or the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division Office at 44 North Potomac Street, Suite 104, Hagerstown, MD 21740, by phone at 1-888-743-0023 or 410-528-8662, or by visiting http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/contactus.aspx.
New York residents are advised that in response to this incident they can place a fraud alert or security freeze on their credit reports and may report any incidents of suspected identity theft to law enforcement, the FTC, the New York Attorney General, or local law enforcement. Additional information is available at the website of the New York Department of State Division of Consumer Protection at https://dos.nysits.acsitefactory.com/consumerprotection; by visiting the New York Attorney General at https://ag/ny.gov or by phone at 1-800-771-7755; or by contacting the FTC at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ or https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/.
North Carolina residents are advised to remain vigilant by reviewing account statements and monitoring free credit reports and may obtain information about preventing identity theft by contacting the FTC (contact information provided above) or the North Carolina Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, or visiting www.ncdoj.gov, or by phone at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM (1-877-566-7226) or (919) 716-6000.
Rhode Island residents are advised that they may file or obtain a police report in connection with this incident and place a security freeze on their credit file and that fees may be required to be paid to the consumer reporting agencies.
Iowa and Oregon residents are advised to report suspected incidents of identity theft to local law enforcement, to their respective Attorney General, and the FTC.
Massachusetts residents are advised of their right to obtain a police report in connection with this incident.
District of Columbia residents are advised of their right to obtain a security freeze free of charge and can obtain information about steps to take to avoid identity theft by contacting the FTC (contact information provided above) and the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Office of Consumer Protection, at 400 6th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at (202) 442-9828, by visiting https://oag.dc.gov, or emailing at [email protected].
June 28, 2024 –Midwest Covenant Home (“MCH”) is writing to inform you of a recent data security incident that may have resulted in unauthorized access to some individuals’ sensitive personal information. This notice is intended to provide details about the incident, steps we are taking in response, and resources available to help protect against the potential misuse of sensitive personal information.
What Happened? On April 29, 2024, MCH experienced a network disruption that impacted the functionality and access of certain systems. Upon discovery of this incident, MCH immediately disconnected all access to the network and promptly engaged a specialized third-party cybersecurity firm and IT personnel to assist with securing the environment as well as to conduct a comprehensive forensic investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The forensic investigation concluded that certain folders and files may have been subject to unauthorized access.
Based on this investigation, MCH has begun an extensive and comprehensive review to identify impacted individuals and any sensitive information involved. The process remains ongoing. MCH will mail formal notice letters to those impacted individuals once they are identified.
What Information Was Involved? Based on the investigation, the following information belonging to employees may have been subject to unauthorized access: first name; last name; date of birth; Social Security Number; financial account information. In regard to clients, the following information may have been subject to unauthorized access: first name; last name; date of birth; Social Security Number; medical information; health insurance information. The impacted information may vary by individuals. Please note there is no evidence at this time that any personal information has been misused as a result of this incident.
What We Are Doing? Data privacy and security is among MCH’s highest priorities, and we are committed to doing everything we can to protect the privacy and security of the personal information in our care. Upon discovery of the Incident, MCH moved quickly to investigate and respond to the Incident and assessed the security of its systems. Specifically, MCH engaged a specialized cybersecurity firm and IT personnel to conduct a forensic investigation to determine the nature and scope of the Incident. Additionally, MCH took the following steps, including, but not limited to deploying endpoint security software; restored operations in a safe and secure manner; enhanced security measures; and took steps and will continue to take steps to mitigate the risk of future harm.
What You Can Do:
We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review your account statements, and to monitor your credit reports for suspicious or unauthorized activity. Additionally, security experts suggest that you contact your financial institution and all major credit bureaus to inform them of such a breach and then take whatever steps are recommended to protect your interests, including the possible placement of a fraud alert on your credit file.
Other Important Information:
We recognize that you may have questions not addressed in this notice. If you have any questions or concerns, please call 1-833-531-3276 (toll free) Monday through Friday, during the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Central Time (excluding U.S. national holidays).
MCH sincerely regrets any concern or inconvenience this matter may cause and remains dedicated to ensuring the privacy and security of all information in our control.
Sincerely,
Midwest Covenant Home
Steps You Can Take to Help Protect Your Information
Credit Reports: You may obtain a copy of your credit report, free of charge, whether or not you suspect any unauthorized activity on your account. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. To order your free credit report, please visit www.anualcreditreport.com, or call toll-free at 1-877-322-8228. You can also order your annual free credit report by mailing a completed Annual Credit Report Request Form (available at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports) to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA, 30348-5281.
Fraud Alerts: You can place fraud alerts with the three credit bureaus by phone or online. A fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures, including contacting you, before they open any new accounts or change your existing accounts. For that reason, placing a fraud alert can protect you, but also may delay you when you seek to obtain credit. As of September 21, 2018, initial fraud alerts last for one year. Victims of identity theft can also get an extended fraud alert for seven years.
Experian
PO Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
http://www.experian.com/fraud/center.htmal
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016
1-800-680-7289
http://www.transunion.com/fraud-alerts
Equifax
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348
1-800-525-6285
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts/
Monitoring: You should always remain vigilant for incidents of fraud and identity theft by reviewing credit card account statements and by monitoring your credit report for suspicious or unusual activity.
Security Freeze: You have the right to place a security freeze on your credit report. A security freeze is intended to prevent credit, loans and services from being approved in your name without your consent. To place a security freeze on your credit report, you need to make a request to each consumer reporting agency. You may make that request by certified mail, overnight mail, regular stamped mail, or by following the instructions found at the websites listed below. The following information must be included when requesting a security freeze (note that if you are requesting a credit report for your spouse or a minor under the age of 16, this information must be provided for him/her as well); (1) full name, with middle initial and any suffixes; (2) Social Security number; (3) date of birth; (4) current address and any previous addresses for the past five years; and (5) any applicable incident report r complaint with the law enforcement agency or the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The request must also include a copy of the government-issued identification card and a copy of the recent utility bill or bank or insurance statement. It is essential that each copy be legible, display your name and current mailing address, and the date of issue. As of September 21, 2018, it is free to place, lift or remove a security freeze. You may also place a security freeze for children under the age of 16. You may obtain a free security freeze by contacting any one or more of the following national consumer reporting agencies:
Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
http://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094
1-888-909-8872
http://www.transunion.com/credit-https://freeze
Equifax
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
1-888-298-0045
http://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze
File Police Report: You have the right to file or obtain a police report if you experience identity fraud. Please note that in order to file a crime report or incident report with the law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide proof that you have been a victim. A police report is often required to dispute fraudulent items. You can generally report suspected incidents of identity theft to local law enforcement or to the Attorney General.
FTC and Attorneys General: You can further educate yourself, by contacting the consumer reporting agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.identitytheft.gov, 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338), 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. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Instances of known ore suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement.
For residents of Iowa: State law advises you to report any suspected identity theft to law enforcement or to the Attorney General.
For residents of Massachusetts: It is required by state law that you are informed of your right to obtain a police report filed in regard to this incident. If you are the victim of identity theft, you also have the right to file a police report and obtain a copy of it.
For residents of New Mexico: State law advises you to review personal account statements and credit reports, as applicable, to detect errors resulting from the security breach. You have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in your credit file has been used against you, the right to know what is in your credit file, the right to ask for your credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable, information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to your file is limited; you must give your consent for the credit reports to be provided to employers; you may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance you get based on information in your credit report; and you may seek damages from violators. You may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage you to review your rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act at www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fera.pdf or by writhing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ace. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580
For resident of Oregon: State law advises you to report any suspected identity theft to law enforcement, including the Attorney General, and the Federal Trade Commission.
For residents of Rhode Island: It is required by state law that you are informed of you right to file or obtain a police report in regard to this incident.
For resident of Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island: You can obtain information from the Offices of the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission about fraud alerts, security freezes, and steps you can take toward preventing identity theft.
Federal Trade Commission– Consumer Response Center: 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20580; 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338): www.identitytheft.gov
Arizona office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection & Advocacy Section, 2005 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004 1-602-542-5025
Colorado Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection 1300 Broadway, 9th Floor, Denver, CO 80203 1-720-508-6000 www.coag.gov
District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General – Office of Consumer Protection 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 202-727-3400; www.oag.dc.gov
Illinois office of the Attorney General- 100 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601; 1-866-999-5630; www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
Maryland Office of the Attorney General- Consumer Protection Division; 200 St. Paul Place, 16th floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-888-743-0023; www.oag.state.md.us
New York Office of Attorney General– Consumer Frauds & Protection: The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224; 1-800-771-7755; https://ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds/identity-theft
North Carolina Office of the Attorney General- Consumer Protection Division: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699; 1-877-566-7226; www.ncdoj.com
Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection; 150 South Main St., Providence RI 02903;1-401-274-4400; www.riag.ri.gov
