DataBreaches.Net

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

MA: Information of 13,000 Baystate patients possibly compromised due to “phishing”

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Dissent

Anthony Fay reports:

About 13,000 patients of Baystate Health may have had some of their personal information compromised, due to a “phishing” e-mail that was received by some staff members. According to a Baystate Health news release sent to 22News, the information may have included names and dates of birth, in addition to medical information, such as diagnoses and the type of treatment the patient received, and even perhaps health insurance identification numbers. Social Security numbers and billing information were definitely not compromised, Baystate says.

Baystate Health learned about the phishing e-mail on August 22.

Read more on WWLP.

The following statement was posted on Baystate Health’s site:

October 21, 2016

Baystate Health (“Baystate”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients’ information. This notice concerns an incident involving some of that information.

On August 22, 2016, Baystate learned that a “phishing” email had been sent to several Baystate employees allowing hackers to access some employees’ email accounts. The hacker designed the phishing email to look like an internal Baystate memo to employees. We immediately took steps to secure the email accounts and began an investigation. We have reported the incident to law enforcement.

The investigation determined that 5 Baystate employees had responded to the phishing email. This allowed the hackers to gain access to the employees’ email accounts. Some of the emails in those accounts included patient information. While we have no evidence that any patient information has been taken or misused, we want to assure our patients that we take this incident very seriously. The information in the emails may have included patients’ names and dates of birth, diagnosis, treatment received, medical record number and, in some instances, health insurance identification number. The emails did not contain Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other financial information. No patient medical records were accessed. Baystate’s electronic medical records systems were not affected.

Baystate is committed to protecting private information and is taking this matter very seriously. To help prevent a similar event from happening again, we are increasing our employee training about phishing emails.

We mailed letters to people who may have been affected on Friday, October 21, 2016. If you believe you may be affected and have not received a letter by November 5, 2016, or if you have any questions about this incident, please call 844-723-9338, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. eastern time.

Category: Health DataPhishingU.S.

Post navigation

← NY: Hackers breach City of Middletown computer system
Boxes of patient information missing from Florida Hospital in Orlando →

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

  • ICE takes steps to deport the Australian hacker known as “DR32”
  • Hearing on the Federal Government and AI
  • Nigerian National Sentenced To More Than Five Years For Hacking, Fraud, And Identity Theft Scheme
  • Data breach of patient info ends in firing of Miami hospital employee
  • Texas DOT investigates breach of crash report records, sends notification letters
  • PowerSchool hacker pleads guilty, released on personal recognizance bond
  • Rewards for Justice offers $10M reward for info on RedLine developer or RedLine’s use by foreign governments
  • New evidence links long-running hacking group to Indian government
  • Zaporizhzhia Cyber ​​Police Exposes Hacker Who Caused Millions in Losses to Victims by Mining Cryptocurrency
  • Germany fines Vodafone $51 million for privacy, security breaches

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 Decision That Murdered Privacy
  • Hearing on the Federal Government and AI
  • California county accused of using drones to spy on residents
  • How the FBI Sought a Warrant to Search Instagram of Columbia Student Protesters
  • Germany fines Vodafone $51 million for privacy, security breaches
  • Malaysia enacts data sharing rules for public sector
  • U.S. Enacts Take It Down Act

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.