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Lottery commission sends out letters warning of potential ID leaks
By ALLEN JONES
In September, the Texas Lottery Commission reported that a former employee may be in possession of unauthorized data containing information of TLC employees, certain licensed retailers and some prize winners.
The Potpourri confirmed Nov. 12 at least one Tomball area resident, Tina Niederheiser, may be among those whose information is allegedly in the hands of the former lottery commission employee.
The TLC mailed letters to those potentially affected by the alleged unauthorized possession of data files which contain sensitive information.
According to the TLC, the data files in the former employee’s possession may contain personally identifiable information about Niederheiser. The files contained the names and social security numbers of many TLC retailers, including Niederheiser’s.
According to the TLC, there is no indication Niederheiser’s or anyone else’s information contained in the data files have been improperly used or transferred to others. However, the TLC is warning those whose names and sensitive information was among data in the hands of the former employee, leaks and transfer of information is a possibility.
As a precaution, the lottery commission is urging those whom it has contacted via mail to place a fraud alert on their credit files. The alert tells creditors to contact the social security number holders before they open any new accounts or change existing accounts.
Those who have received official notification from the lottery commission that their information may have been included in the former employee’s possession should contact any one of the three major credit bureaus. As soon as one credit bureau confirms a person’s fraud alert status, the others are notified to place fraud alerts. All three credit reports will be sent to those affected by the data file leak, free of charge, for review, as well.
The three major credit bureaus are Equifax, 800-525-6285; Experian, 888-397-3742; and Trans Union Corp., 800-680-7289.
Even if any of the potential identify theft victims do not find any suspicious activity on their initial credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission recommends those persons should check their credit reports periodically. Frequent checking may help the potential victims spot problems and address them quickly.
Those who find suspicious activity on their credit reports or have reason to believe their information is being misused, should file a report with the Criminal Investigations Division, Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts, by calling 800-531-5441, ext. 33901.
Those who have additional questions may contact the state lottery commission’s hotline number at 800-375-6886.
In a letter dated Nov. 12 by Gary Grief, Deputy Executive Director of the TLC, he said the commission “deeply regret any concern and inconvenience this incident may cause” those who may have had their personal information taken by the former employee.
The Potpourri confirmed Nov. 12 at least one Tomball area resident, Tina Niederheiser, may be among those whose information is allegedly in the hands of the former lottery commission employee.
The TLC mailed letters to those potentially affected by the alleged unauthorized possession of data files which contain sensitive information.
According to the TLC, the data files in the former employee’s possession may contain personally identifiable information about Niederheiser. The files contained the names and social security numbers of many TLC retailers, including Niederheiser’s.
According to the TLC, there is no indication Niederheiser’s or anyone else’s information contained in the data files have been improperly used or transferred to others. However, the TLC is warning those whose names and sensitive information was among data in the hands of the former employee, leaks and transfer of information is a possibility.
As a precaution, the lottery commission is urging those whom it has contacted via mail to place a fraud alert on their credit files. The alert tells creditors to contact the social security number holders before they open any new accounts or change existing accounts.
Those who have received official notification from the lottery commission that their information may have been included in the former employee’s possession should contact any one of the three major credit bureaus. As soon as one credit bureau confirms a person’s fraud alert status, the others are notified to place fraud alerts. All three credit reports will be sent to those affected by the data file leak, free of charge, for review, as well.
The three major credit bureaus are Equifax, 800-525-6285; Experian, 888-397-3742; and Trans Union Corp., 800-680-7289.
Even if any of the potential identify theft victims do not find any suspicious activity on their initial credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission recommends those persons should check their credit reports periodically. Frequent checking may help the potential victims spot problems and address them quickly.
Those who find suspicious activity on their credit reports or have reason to believe their information is being misused, should file a report with the Criminal Investigations Division, Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts, by calling 800-531-5441, ext. 33901.
Those who have additional questions may contact the state lottery commission’s hotline number at 800-375-6886.
In a letter dated Nov. 12 by Gary Grief, Deputy Executive Director of the TLC, he said the commission “deeply regret any concern and inconvenience this incident may cause” those who may have had their personal information taken by the former employee.
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