College of St. Catherine
St. Catherine Student Victim of Identity Theft After College Delay’s Notification
Quick Facts
- Date: 5/27/2007
- Institution: College of St. Catherine
- Type of Incident: Theft
- Number Affected: 18
- Source: ESI
- Abstract Source: TwinCities.com
Abstract
The College of St. Catherine delayed notifying 18 students about the theft of files containing information such as student names and Social Security numbers. Theft originally occurred on April 2 but students were not notified until April 16. During this period Kelsey Tape, a St. Catherine student, discovered that someone was using her Social Security number to apply for credit cards in Texas. St. Catherine officials claim the college’s response to the incident goes beyond state and federal requirements but declined further comment citing an ongoing police investigation. Tape has requested that St. Catherine pay the $100 fee for a year of credit monitoring. According to St. Catherine officials, this request is under advisement. The incident involved a theft of paper files from desks within St. Catherine’s academic advising office.
Update 5/30/07:
St. Catherine Media Relations Manager, Julie Michener, contacted ESI with more information about this incident. According to Michener, St. Catherine did not delay notifying students about this breach. Once the college was aware of the theft on April 10, staff contacted the police and an investigation was launched. Once this investigation discovered that student information was involved, St. Catherine immediately began notifying the students. The students affected by this theft are able, by law, to place a freeze on their credit reports for free. In addition, Michener reports that to date no student affected by the theft has incurred any financial liability due to fraudulent use of student information.
