DHR warns employees about breach of confidential information

The Georgia Department of Human Resources is taking extensive measures to alert current and former employees of a breach of confidential records that may expose personal employee information. As a precaution, DHR is urging current and former employees to carefully review all credit records and other financial account information. Employees potentially affected by the security breach will receive a letter from Rosa Waymon, Director of the Office of Human Resources Management and Development (OHRMD), explaining the situation and recommending they contact the three credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax and Trans Union.

The agency warns that the breach took place on or around March 19th. An external hard drive that stored a database containing identifying information such as names, social security numbers, birth dates, home contact and federal tax information was removed by an unauthorized person.

Since discovering the breach, DHR has been working diligently to inform employees of the breach while also conducting an internal investigation led by the Office of Investigative Services. The agency has also proactively alerted the three credit bureaus about the situation. DHR has instituted a new directive which requires password protection on jump and flash drives and portable computer media that contains personnel information. Additionally, the agency is directing employees to secure these items when away from their desks and offices.

While DHR has no evidence that the information is being used fraudulently, the agency is taking every immediate measure to limit the possibility of potential fraud and identity theft.

Georgia law indicates that all residents are to receive two credit reports free of charge each year. The agency urges employees to retrieve a copy of their credit report and request a fraud alert be placed on their records. Employees should contact each credit bureau at the following: Experian, P. O. Box 9595, Allen, TX 75013-9595 Tel: 888-397-3742; Equifax, P. O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 Tel: 800-685-1111; and Trans Union, P. O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022 Tel: 800-888- 4213.

For more information, please visit: "http://dhr.state.ga.us" __http:// dhr.state.ga.us or _ HYPERLINK "http://annualcreditreport.com" http://annualcreditreport.com_.