New Mexico soldiers deploying to Kosovo now have one more thing to worry about after a computer containing personal information was stolen from the National Guard Headquarters in Santa Fe. It contained deployment records and social security information for about 650 soldiers throughout the state. The computer was stolen sometime between Dec. 23-28. Soldiers affected…
Category: Government Sector
GBI investigates police data theft
Jim Wallace reports for WALB in Georgia: A Dougherty County Sheriff’s deputy is accused of stealing the identity of an inmate. Sheriff Kevin Sproul says there could be more people involved in the crime and possibly more victims. The GBI [Georgia Bureau of Investigation] continues to investigate. Dougherty County Sheriff’s Deputy Charles Tharpe, a nearly…
Security lapses at Statistics Canada
Kathleen Harris reports that a freedom of information request revealed a number of data security breaches involving Statistics Canada: There have been several cases of government-issued laptops containing confidential personal information stolen from employees’ homes or vehicles. In at least two incidents, field interviewers had left a sticky note with the password with the portable…
TN: Ex-deputy sentenced to 34 months in prison for ID theft
Jamie Satterfield reports: A former Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy who used a woman’s personal information for personal profit in an identity theft scheme is headed to federal prison. U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan on Friday sentenced Michelle Lee Stiles, 39, to 34 months in prison for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. […] According…
WA: Suspected ID thief may have over 1,000 victims
Drew Mikkelsen reports: An Olympia man arrested Thursday may have planned to steal the identities of 1,000 people, said Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza. Anthony Vaughn is held on 50 counts of identity theft at the Thurston County Jail. A veteran detective said Vaughn was likely part of the largest identity theft ring in county…
FL: Social Security Numbers Found on Duval County Website
Maria Will knows to be careful on the internet, especially with private information like bank account and Social Security numbers. “Anybody can put an address in and pull up anything,” said Will. But she didn’t realize some of that protected information can be found on a government website. In at least one case, there was…