Eugene (KMTR) - The Department of Human Services in Lane County is trying to contact people in their database after a laptop computer containing personal information of about 3,000 people was stolen. It was taken from the Springfield DHS office on December 8 and was reported missing the next day. It still has not been found. It held the fingerprint records and other personal information of DHS staff, volunteers, foster parents, adoption placements, respite providers and in-home care providers. It did not have any client information.The agency has notified many people about the theft and is now trying to reach even more.
DHS District 5 Manager John Radich says the laptop had security software installed, so DHS is hopeful that the information is safe.
“The laptop has password protection and some security stuff on it, but we don't know if the person who stole it has the wherewithal to figure it out. And so we hope that the risk is very, very low and they haven't figured it out. But we want to notify people, just in case,” Radich said.”
Anyone who was fingerprinted at either Lane County DHS office, on Willamette Street in Eugene or the Gateway Center in Springfield, between August, 2008 and this month is advised to contact credit agencies to place a fraud alert on their credit reports. They should also check bank and credit card accounts and let them know if something is not right, change their online logins and passwords for those accounts and contact the federal trade commission if there is any indication of an identity theft.
Those who have questions or who think they may have become an ID theft victim may call the Department of Human Services hotline at (855) 360-4554, extension 0.
