DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Southern California Medical-Legal Consultants reveals that 300,000 workers’ compensation applicants’ names and Social Security Numbers were exposed on internet

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Dissent

Remember how Heartland Payment Systems took a lot of heat for announcing their breach at a time that coincided with President Obama’s inauguration? Since then, a lot of entities have been bashed a bit over the timing of their breach disclosures. As someone who tracks breaches, it became almost a given that I would find a number of disclosures on Friday afternoons, when they might be more likely to be missed by people heading out for the weekend. But a press release about breach disclosure on a Sunday? Here’s a press release I just saw:

Southern California Medical-Legal Consultants, Inc. (SCMLC) announced that electronic files containing names and social security numbers of approximately 300,000 individuals who have applied for California workers’ compensation benefits had been exposed to unauthorized access. SCMLC is a California company that represents medical providers in the recovery of billing from workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

The company was notified of the possible breach by a data security firm that discovered some of the files using a sophisticated, automated search of Google indexes. According to SCMLC, the information was stored on a computer that was intended for internal purposes only, and not linked to or accessible from any of the company’s public web pages. The data security firm has assured SCMLC that they have not and will not distribute any of the information they accessed and that their purpose in accessing the files was the prevention of identity theft.

“We take data security and privacy very seriously,” said Joel Hecht, President of SCMLC. “Unfortunately, our internal security policies and procedures were not followed. We were notified, we took immediate steps to remediate the situation and we are taking long-term measures to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. While we believe that the risk of identity theft is minimal, SCMLC is doing everything required under the law with respect to notification of anyone who could be affected by this incident.”

For inquiries, contact [email protected] or call 562-493-0851.

I’ve emailed the firm to try to get additional details. A copy of the press release was prominently linked to from their web site home page yesterday.

Sometimes, entities are damned if they do, damned if they don’t disclose as soon as they’ve got their ducks in a row. Before critics pile on, maybe we need to find out more.

Category: Breach IncidentsBusiness SectorExposureOf NoteU.S.

Post navigation

← Epic Games Gets Hacked
A Russian A.T.M. With an Ear for the Truth →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Banks Want SEC to Rescind Cyberattack Disclosure Requirements
  • MathWorks, Creator of MATLAB, Confirms Ransomware Attack
  • Russian hospital programmer gets 14 years for leaking soldier data to Ukraine
  • MSCS board renews contract with PowerSchool while suing them
  • Iranian Man Pleaded Guilty to Role in Robbinhood Ransomware
  • Developments surrounding data breach at Dutch police
  • Estonia launches international search for Moroccan citizen wanted over data theft
  • Now it’s Tiffany: Another LVMH luxury brand hit by hackers
  • Dutch Government: More forms of espionage to be a criminal offence from 15 May onwards
  • B.C. health authority faces class-action lawsuit over 2009 data breach (1)

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • The CCPA emerges as a new legal battleground for web tracking litigation
  • U.S. Spy Agencies Are Getting a One-Stop Shop to Buy Your Most Sensitive Personal Data
  • Period Tracking App Users Win Class Status in Google, Meta Suit
  • AI: the Italian Supervisory Authority fines Luka, the U.S. company behind chatbot “Replika,” 5 Million €
  • D.C. Federal Court Rules Termination of Democrat PCLOB Members Is Unlawful
  • Meta may continue to train AI with user data, German court says
  • Widow of slain Saudi journalist can’t pursue surveillance claims against Israeli spyware firm

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.