Identity Theft
Friday, June 11, 2010 by Underdog Lawyer
There have been a number of recent articles in the media about major companies allowing their customers' social security numbers to be obtained by outsiders who "hacked" into the company's computer system. The most recent has been Penn State University's revelation that some of its students' social security numbers could have been accessed. There is nothing that can affect a person's credit rating any faster than having unauthorized persons obtain their social security number. Apparently at Penn State it has happened more than once.
Under Pennsylvania law, a victim of such unauthorized disclosure gets some protection from theft by obtaining a free "fraud alert" from a credit reporting organization for 90 days to make sure their has been no misuse of their credit. However, after that 90 day period, the victim must continually check to see if his or her credit has been accessed. That costs money and takes time, and Penn State is not reimbursing such victims in the absence of a breach.
If you find out your credit has been affected by an improper disclosure, contact our firm. You shouldn't have to pay for the problem.
Under Pennsylvania law, a victim of such unauthorized disclosure gets some protection from theft by obtaining a free "fraud alert" from a credit reporting organization for 90 days to make sure their has been no misuse of their credit. However, after that 90 day period, the victim must continually check to see if his or her credit has been accessed. That costs money and takes time, and Penn State is not reimbursing such victims in the absence of a breach.
If you find out your credit has been affected by an improper disclosure, contact our firm. You shouldn't have to pay for the problem.
