NY: CASES notifies clients of data security breach

The mission of the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES) is to increase public safety through innovative services that reduce crime and incarceration, improve behavioral health, promote recovery and rehabilitation, and create opportunities for success in the community.  CASES programs have provided effective alternatives to incarceration in New York City since 1967. On January 15, CASES published the following notification: January 15 — CASES is committed to protecting the confidentiality and security of our clients’ information. Regrettably, we recently addressed an issue that may have involved some of that information. On November 18, 2020, we determined that a limited number of employee email accounts containing client information were subject to unauthorized access at times between July 6, 2020 and October 4, 2020. As soon as we learned of this access, we worked with outside cyber security firms to determine how the incident occurred and what information was contained in the email accounts. Subsequently, on January 6, 2021, we learned that some of CASES’ information had been acquired by an unauthorized third party. Our investigations indicated that some client information was potentially a part of these incidents, and may have included names, dates of birth, medical record or client identification numbers and/or clinical information related to care through CASES. In limited instances, the impacted information also included clients’ health insurance information, financial account information, Social Security numbers and/or driver’s license numbers. The incident did not affect all CASES’ clients but a limited number whose information was contained in the email accounts. We began mailing letters to affected clients on January 15, 2021 and established a dedicated call center for individuals to call with questions. If you believe you are affected by this incident but do not receive a letter by February 15, 2021, please call (855) 526-1141, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Eastern Time. Our investigation is ongoing, and we will send letters to additional clients whose information is identified once the investigation is complete. For clients whose Social Security numbers and/or driver’s license numbers were involved, we are offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services. We also recommend that all affected clients regularly review statements they receive from their health insurers and healthcare providers. If they see services they did not receive, clients should contact the insurer or provider immediately. We take the privacy and confidentiality of our clients’ information very seriously, and deeply regret any inconvenience or concern this incident may cause. To help prevent something like this from happening again, we are reinforcing education with our staff on email security and have enhanced our security tools. Source: CASES.orgDataBreaches.netRead More