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FEMA Unlawfully Shared Personal Information Of 2.3 Million Disaster Victims

FEMA Unlawfully Shared Personal Information Of 2.3 Million Disaster Victims

When a natural disaster upends your family and your way of life, the last thing you need is more bad news. Unfortunately, this is the case for a large amount of recent disaster survivors. The Department of Homeland Security just released that FEMA unlawfully shared personal information of 2.3 million disaster victims. Those affected by this data leak are survivors of the 2017 California wildfires and hurricanes Irma, Maria and Harvey. It was stated that the individuals who were a part of this leak are at “increased risk of identity theft and fraud.”

FEMA Data Leak

Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security, John V. Kelly, states that the data of 2.3 million disaster victims was unlawfully disclosed with a federal contractor. This contractor was being used to help find temporary housing for victims.

The report states that “FEMA provided and continues to provide  with more than 20 unnecessary data fields for survivors participating in the TSA program.” This information includes:

  • Applicant Street Address
  • Applicant Zip Code
  • Applicant City Name
  • Applicant’s Financial Institution Name
  • Applicant’s Electronic Funds Transfer Number
  • Applicant’s Bank Transfer Number

FEMA Press Secretary, Lizzie Litzow, made a statement saying “Since discovery of this issue, FEMA has taken aggressive measures to correct this error. FEMA is no longer sharing unnecessary data with the contractor and has conducted a detailed review of the contractor’s information system.”

In December 2018, FEMA began filtering data in order to prevent unnecessary information from being shared. However, a more permanent fix may not be completed until June 2020. According to Litzow, “To date, FEMA has found no indicators to suggest survivor data has been compromised.”

What To Do If You May Be A Part Of This Leak

  • Sign up for an identity theft restoration service that covers your entire family, such as ReclaimMyID. If you become a victim of identity theft, this company will work to restore your identity 100%.
  • Keep an eye on your financial statements daily.
  • Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit file.
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Warning Signs Of Identity Theft

Warning Signs Of Identity Theft

It seems like every other day we’re hearing about a new data breach. Chances are, at least some of our information is out there for someone to find. This is a scary thought, and it makes identity theft a very hot topic. In order to stay safe, we have to keep a close watch on some of the things that can notify us of potential identity theft, such as financial accounts and credit reports. In the world we live in it is important to know the most common warning signs of identity theft. The faster you can spot nefarious activity, the easier it will be to correct.

Most Common Warning Signs of Identity Theft

We mentioned that it is important to keep an eye on your accounts and information. The more frequently you do this, the easier it will be to spot fraudulent activity. Here are some warning signs to look out for.

  • Withdrawals from financial accounts that you cannot explain.
  • Your credit report shows activity that was unauthorized.
  • You receive mail or phone calls regarding debts that aren’t yours.
  • Checks are refused by merchants.
  • You aren’t receiving mail or bills that you believe you should be receiving.
  • You encounter difficulties filing a tax return. Some examples are being notified that a return was already filed under your name or the IRS notifying you of income from an employer you aren’t employed by.
  • Unexpected denial of a credit application.

What To Do If You Think You May Be A Victim

  • Contact you’re the financial institution that holds the account where an unauthorized transaction is spotted.
  • Contact the credit bureau that issued the credit report where you noticed unauthorized activity. If you don’t subscribe to an identity theft restoration service, place a credit freeze on your file.
  • If you know you are a victim of identity theft and you are a member of an identity theft restoration service, such as ReclaimMyID, contact them right away. A Licensed Domestic Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist will get started on restoring your identity.
  • Update any online passwords for websites tied to accounts that you think may be compromised.
  • If you aren’t a victim of identity theft, but you’re concerned about it happening in the future, subscribe to an identity theft restoration service.

There are people who want to use your information for their gain and your harm. If you become a victim, knowing the warning signs of identity theft will save you time, money and stress.