DataBreaches.Net

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

From my mail bag…

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Dissent

Cross-posted from phiprivacy.net:

Over on DataBreaches.net, a number of people are reporting that they have received notification letters for the Maricopa Community Colleges breach, but that they’ve never attended the college and have no idea why they’re receiving letters.

Today, I got an email about a breach reported on this site (phiprivacy.net). I’m redacting it, but it says:

Dear Dissent,

I found your web site when I was investigating a letter from the above doctor. In the letter, he claims that his laptop was stolen and “my” records may be on his laptop. I don’t know this doc.

In the meantime, the letter offers me free “<name of company redacted>” services.

This looks like spam, but much classier. Do you know about this?

Thanks for your diligence.

Under HITECH’s breach notification rule, breached entities must include a phone number where you can call for more information about what data a breached entity held on you. If you ever receive a breach notification letter and have no idea who the entity is or why they have data on you, call them and ask. If the phone number is for the credit monitoring service and they can’t answer your question about how the doctor got your information, call the doctor’s office directly and ask them to explain how/why they have information on you.  If they won’t tell you, remember that you can file a HIPAA complaint with HHS using HHS’s online complaint system.

And don’t hesitate to google the name of any free credit monitoring service you are being offered if you suspect spam or something evil. The service mentioned in this correspondent’s email is a legitimate service, but if you’re leery that you’re being sent to a site that could steal your personal information, just check first to make sure they’re on the up and up.


Related:

  • Legal Silence and Chilling Effects: Injunctions Against the Press in Cybersecurity
  • North Country Healthcare responds to Stormous's claims of a breach
  • Gladney Adoption Center had serious data exposures in the past few months. What will they do to prevent more?
  • 70% of healthcare cyberattacks result in delayed patient care, report finds
  • Hackers Can Remotely Trigger the Brakes on American Trains and the Problem Has Been Ignored for Years
  • Back from the Brink: District Court Clears Air Regarding Individualized Damages Assessment in Data Breach Cases
Category: Commentaries and Analyses

Post navigation

← From my mail bag…
18,800 Colorado State Workers Wrapped Up In Data Breach →

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

  • Scattered Spider Hijacks VMware ESXi to Deploy Ransomware on Critical U.S. Infrastructure
  • Hacker group “Silent Crow” claims responsibility for cyberattack on Russia’s Aeroflot
  • AIIMS ORBO Portal Vulnerability Exposing Sensitive Organ Donor Data Discovered by Researcher
  • Two Data Breaches in Three Years: McKenzie Health
  • Scattered Spider is running a VMware ESXi hacking spree
  • BreachForums — the one that went offline in April — reappears with a new founder/owner
  • Fans React After NASCAR Confirms Ransomware Breach
  • Allianz Life says ‘majority’ of customers’ personal data stolen in cyberattack (1)
  • Infinite Services notifying employees and patients of limited ransomware attack
  • The safe place for women to talk wasn’t so safe: hackers leak 13,000 user photos and IDs from the Tea app

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

  • Congress tries to outlaw AI that jacks up prices based on what it knows about you
  • Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature is now blocked by Brave and AdGuard
  • Trump Administration Issues AI Action Plan and Series of AI Executive Orders
  • Indonesia asked to reassess data privacy terms in new U.S. trade deal
  • Meta Denies Tracking Menstrual Data in Flo Health Privacy Trial
  • Wikipedia seeks to shield contributors from UK law targeting online anonymity
  • British government reportedlu set to back down on secret iCloud backdoor after US pressure

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.