We are writing to inform you that an unauthorized third party accessed GovDelivery, which is the Kitsap County Electronic Notification System, this week. They were able to access a list of email addresses of users who asked to subscribe to County newsletters and bulletins.
After that system access, some subscribers received emails through the GovDelivery system erroneously advising that they have unclaimed money in a cryptocurrency account. This email was unauthorized and would never be sent by Kitsap County. For this, we apologize.
What Happened?
On Wednesday, March 26, an unauthorized third party accessed a database containing the email addresses of the subscribers to the Kitsap County Electronic Notification System. In response, the County took appropriate action immediately to secure the account and prevent further access. The County Information Services Department conducted an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident, as well as the information accessed.
We were able to confirm that the third party was only able to access the email list of subscribers. Again, no personal or financial subscriber data was compromised.
What Are We Doing?
The County takes data security very seriously. We have enhanced existing security measures and are reviewing protocols to prevent this from happening in the future.
What You Should Do
While no immediate action is required on your part, we recommend remaining vigilant against potential phishing emails and unsolicited messages. It is a best practice to not respond or click on any links in emails that appear suspicious or unusual, even from trusted senders. Below is information and resources regarding identity theft prevention and reporting.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact us at Kitsap1 at 360.337.5777.
We sincerely regret any inconvenience or concern this incident may cause and appreciate your understanding as we work to protect your privacy.
Torie Brazitis
County Administrator
Resources for Identity Theft Prevention & Reporting
STEPS TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT
Free Credit Reports
We recommend that you remain vigilant for incidents of fraud or identity theft by reviewing your bills, account statements, and free credit reports for any unauthorized activity. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies. To order your free annual credit report, please visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll-free at 1.877.322.8228. You may contact the nationwide credit reporting agencies at:
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Fraud Victim Assistance Division
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Contact the Federal Trade Commission, Law Enforcement, the Attorney General, and Credit Bureaus
If you believe you are a victim of identity theft or have reason to suspect that your personal information has been misused, you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission and/or the Attorney General’s office in your state. You can obtain information from these sources about steps an individual can take to prevent identity theft, as well as details about fraud alerts and security freezes. You should also contact your local law enforcement authorities and file a police report. Obtain a copy of the police report in case you are asked to provide copies to creditors to correct your records. Contact information for the Federal Trade Commission is as follows: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.ftc.gov/idtheft, 1.877.IDTHEFT (438.4338).
Fraud Alerts
You can also have these credit bureaus place a “fraud alert” on your file, which alerts creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity before granting credit in your name. Note, however, that because it tells creditors to follow specific procedures to protect you, it may also delay your ability to obtain credit while the agency verifies your identity. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts on your file. Should you wish to place a fraud alert or have questions regarding your credit report, please contact any one of the credit reporting agencies listed above.
Credit Freeze
A credit freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing any information from a consumer’s credit report until the freeze is lifted. When a credit freeze is in place, no one, including you, can open a new account. As a result, please be aware that placing a security freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, credit, mortgages, employment, housing, or other services. To place a credit freeze, contact all three credit reporting agencies listed above and provide the personal information required by each agency to place a freeze.
When you place a credit freeze, you will be provided with a PIN to temporarily lift or remove the credit freeze. If you have been a victim of identity theft and provide the credit reporting agency with a valid police report, there is no charge for you to place, lift, or remove a credit freeze. To place a credit freeze, contact each of these credit reporting agencies at:
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TransUnion – 800.909.8872
For more information, go to:
County Resources
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