There may be a follow-up to a breach involving theft of student records noted on this site in November 2014. Jeremy Stewart reports:
The September 2014 theft of student files from Shorter University could be the source of problems for two Rome women who say they are the victims of fraudulent tax returns.
Whitney Chanelle Ringer, 25, of New Freeman Ferry Road, and Jessica Kaye Yeargin, 22, of Garden Lakes Parkway, filed reports with Rome police Friday stating the Internal Revenue Service had advised them that their tax returns had been received. Both women said they had not yet filed their returns.
Read more on Rome News-Tribune.
Obviously, this is all somewhat speculative, and it’s often very difficult to determine how cybercriminals obtained identity information. There are just so many breaches that go unreported or undetected that could be the source. In this case, the university could contact everyone they notified and ask whether they have become victims of tax return fraud. Of course, if they do that, it might open them up to liability, but….