Thousands of city workers in Milwaukee, as well as their spouses and domestic partners, had personal information compromised after a flash drive that contained the data was stolen.
How many victims? About 6,000 city employees and about 3,000 of their spouses and domestic partners.
What type of personal information? Names, addresses, genders, dates of birth and Social Security numbers. Social Security numbers were not included for spouses and domestic partners.
What happened? An individual stole the vehicle of a Milwaukee contractor, which contained the flash drive.
What was the response? The contractor notified law enforcement and the Milwaukee Department of Employee Relations. The company is sending out letters to affected individuals and is said to be offering them one free year of identity theft protection services.
Details: Dynacare Laboratories is the contractor used by Froedtert Health Workforce Health, in connection with Milwaukee's wellness program. A vehicle belonging to a Dynacare Laboratories employee was reported stolen, along with the flash drive, by Froedtert on Oct. 22. Froedtert alerted Milwaukee officials of the theft on Nov. 15.
Quote: “Why are we finding out about this on Nov. 15?” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said. “Does that mean the employee did not tell Dynacare? Or did Dynacare decide to wait?”
Source: jsonline.com, “Flash drive with personal information of city employees stolen from worker's car,” Nov. 15, 2013.
