Irvine
[Update1]UC Irvine ID Theft Caused By UnitedHealthCare Data Breach
Quick Facts
- Date: 6/3/2008
- Institution: University of California, Irvine
- Type of Incident: Employee Fraud (updated)
- Number Affected: 1,132
- Source: Pogo Was Right
- Abstract Source: ComputerWorld
- Update1 Source: The Mercury News
Abstract
A large number of ID theft crimes affecting University of California, Irvine medical students has been traced back to a data breach at UnitedHeathCare. A total of 1,132 current and former graduate students enrolled in the university's graduate student health insurance program could fall victim to tax scam. So far, 155 of these students have had criminals file false tax returns in the students name an collect the refunds. Only those students enrolled in the insurance program in 2006-2007 are affected. The University of California, Irvine has setup a web site - www.uci.edu/identitytheftalert/ - to answer questions about this incident.
Update1
Police have arrested a Fort Worth, Texas man in connection with the ID theft crimes affected UC Irvine students. Authorities allege that Micheal Tyrone Thomas stole a file containing UC Irvine student information while working for UnitedHealthcare. According to a UnitedHealthcare statement, the company is "outraged that a former employee may have illegally accessed information regarding certain University of California, Irvine, students and may have used the information for criminal purposes" and UnitedHealthcare is working with authorities on the case.
UCI Medical Center Missing 1,600 Boxes Containing Patient Information
Quick Facts
- Date: 5/11/2007
- Institution: University of California, Irvine Medical Center
- Type of Incident: Loss
- Number Affected: 287
- Source: Pogo Was Right
- Abstract Source: OCRegister
Abstract
The University of California, Irvine Medical Center is contacting patients over missing medical information. In early March, the UCI Medical Center discovered that 1,600 file boxes were missing from an off-campus warehouse. These boxes contained the names, Social Security numbers and medical files of 287 UCI Medical Center patients. Such information is normally held in the warehouse for seven years in accordance with state law and then destroyed. UCI Medical Center has used this warehouse for 12 years, but is working with a company that specializes in document security to remove the rest of documents. UCI Medical Center sent letters to the 287 patients whose information was contained in these files last Monday. Anyone concerned about this incident can contact the California Office of Privacy Protection at 866-785-9663.
