Notice of Data Privacy Event

Scott County, Iowa (“Scott County”) is providing notice of a data privacy event. To date, we have no evidence of actual or attempted misuse of information as a result of this incident. In an abundance of caution, we are notifying potentially impacted individuals so that they may take additional steps to better protect their personal information, should they feel it is appropriate to do so. This notice provides details of the incident, our response, and steps those who may be impacted can take to protect against possible misuse of their information.

What Happened?

On November 30, 2021, Scott County became aware of suspicious activity relating to an employee email account that was sending unauthorized messages to internal and external users. We immediately launched an investigation to determine the cause of the activity and to secure the account. Working with an outside computer forensics specialist, our investigation determined that an unauthorized actor had accessed three (3) employee email accounts on October 27, 2021. Because we were unable to determine which email messages in the accounts were viewed by the unauthorized actor, we began to review the entire contents of the affected email accounts to identify what information was accessible to the unauthorized actor. We completed this comprehensive review by February 22, 2022 and identified that information related to clients, employees of Scott County, and other individuals who received healthcare treatment or services facilitated by Scott County may have been impacted by this event. We have been working since this time to verify the information at issue and locate address information for impacted individuals in order to notify them of this event. This process is currently ongoing.

What Information Was Involved?

Although we cannot confirm whether personal information was actually accessed, viewed or acquired without permission, we are providing this notification out of an abundance of caution, because such activity cannot be ruled out. The impacted information varies by individual but may include name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, medical information, health insurance information, and financial account information.

How Will Individuals Know If They Are Affected By This Incident?

Scott County is mailing notice letters to the individuals identified as potentially impacted by this incident, for whom we have valid mailing addresses.

What Is Scott County Doing?

Upon discovery of this incident, we promptly began an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security specialists to confirm the nature and scope of this incident. We have also taken steps to secure the impacted email accounts. We are preparing to provide a written notice to the individuals identified as affected, for whom we have valid mailing addresses. We will also be notifying state and federal regulators, as appropriate.

Has The Information Been Misused?

At this time, there is no evidence that there has been any actual or attempted misuse of the information that may have been affected by this incident.

What You Can Do.

Scott County encourages individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, and explanation of benefits forms, and to monitor free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Additional steps individuals can take are provided in the below “Steps You Can Take to Protect Personal information.”

For More Information.

For more information please contact us at 563-326-8293.

Steps You Can Take To Protect Personal Information

Monitor Your Accounts.

Under U.S. law individuals are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus.  To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Individuals may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of their credit report, place a fraud alert, or a security freeze.  Contact information for the credit bureaus is below.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost.  An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file.  Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit.  If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years.  Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization.  The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent.  However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit.  Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report.  To request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, military identification, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of identity theft.

Should you wish to place a fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax	Experian	TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/	https://www.experian.com/help/	https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
888-298-0045	1-888-397-3742	833-395-6938
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069	Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013	TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788	Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013	TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General.  The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and 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 have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud.  Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim.  Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General.  This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.