Federal employees to receive more information
June 5, 2015 The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) — an independent federal agency — announced June 4 that it recently became aware of a cybersecurity incident that may have compromised the personal information of current and former federal employees.
The personally identifiable information of approximately 4 million current and former federal employees was potentially compromised, according to OPM. The Postal Service doesn’t know if current or former postal employees were affected. From June 8-19, OPM will send notifications to all 4 million individuals whose information was potentially compromised.
The email will come from opmcio@csid.com and contain information regarding credit monitoring and identity theft protection services being provided to those federal employees affected by the data breach. If OPM doesn’t have an email address for an individual on file, a standard letter will be sent via the Postal Service.
OPM became aware of the incident in April, according to the announcement. Since then, the agency has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team and the FBI to determine the effect on federal personnel. OPM said it also implemented additional security measures to protect the sensitive information it manages.
To mitigate the risk of fraud and identity theft, OPM is offering affected individuals credit monitoring services and identity theft insurance with CSID, a company that specializes in identity theft protection and fraud resolution. This comprehensive, 18-month membership includes credit report access, credit monitoring, identity theft insurance, and recovery services and is available immediately at no cost to affected individuals identified by OPM.
Additional information is available beginning June 8 at 8 a.m. Central time on CSID’s website and by calling 844-222-2743.
For additional information, including steps on monitoring identity and financial information, visit OPM’s site.
You can freeze and unfreeze your credit at all 3 credit bureaus. They charge $10. The simple fix to credit issues is that all credit be frozen, then when you need to open new credit you unfreeze it for that purpose and creditor only. That is what I do.
This should be free and easier to do. The credit bureaus obviously don’t want to do this because it costs them when your credit cannot be checked. This would solve any issue with somebody opening new credit with your information.
As Federal employees, we are constantly being threatened with credit frauds, identity theft, etc. I have already had one credit card company contact me with an alert on my account, then cancel that card and send me another. Strange thing is, the credit card company stated it was someone in my area (within 50 miles) that tried to use my card, in person!! Not over the internet. Which means they had to have an actual card…I informed them (CC company) I have never let that card out of my sight and have NEVER given it to anyone to use, I had just opened it in November 6 months ago. No big deal they said they had declined the transaction because it appeared suspicious anyways. So I shared a bit of information with the CC company about my habits (intent) with that card. What I most likely would use it for, and how I would use it, what I positively wouldnt use it for and how much of the credit I would most likely use. (what %) They said that was absolutely helpful and will make that part of my record, declining transactions that are out of that norm. I then called my other creditors and offered the same info, requesting that also be part of my file. That should I intend on utilizing more, (out of the norm) I would call them first. Hey, it isnt the most convenient thing to do, but it is only a phone call to protect yourselves. I am not saying Im ok with all the cyber intrusions. What I am saying it’s happened. Protect yourselves. Now I wouldnt know what to do if someone stole my identify, I guess this is where the company OPM is offering us would come in handy, until then, protect your assets.
How could you let this happen again?????
Announced to who ? Hadn’t been for NARFE I still wouldn’t have any thing official ! Dunt hold jer breath for solutions . China may have been the place , but chances are some hometown folk got a stake in this .