DWP Employee Database Stolen!
14,000 DWP employees were greeted with a letter from management this morning, informing them that their identities are now missing. Details are still coming in, but it appears that a DWP sub-contractor was burglarized on Feb 11th, and one of the items stolen, was a computer containing a database of personal information on all 14,000 employees. This database includes Social Security numbers, home addresses, phone numbers, salary info, dob, employee id numbers, insurance and retirement savings info.
In response to what could prove to be a living nightmare for thousands of DWP employees, management has "generously" offered a year of free Equifax Credit Monitoring. Nice.
More on this as it develops...........
UPDATE!
Here is the text of the letter:
Dear Employee,
We at the Department of Water & Power regard our employees as our most critical asset,
and we make every attempt to safeguard your personal information. However, we need
to inform you of a possible security breach of your personal information. We were informed
by a contractor on Feb. 11, 2008 that earlier that day a burglary had occurred at their premises,
and that a computer containing personal information of DWP employees was stolen. While we
have no information that any personal information has been misused, we want you to be
fully informed of this incident so you may take immediate , proactive steps to minimize your
potential risk of identity theft.
This computer contained data on all active employees who were members of the DWP
Retirement Plan during 2006 & 2007. The data included name, social security number,
date of birth, employee identification number, salary, work location, deferred compensation
account balances (but no account number), LA City Employees Assoc. Insurance plan
coverage, and health care benefits selection (but no specific medical information).
DWP management is working very closely with law enforcement agencies to mitigate
any negative outcomes from this possible security breach. DWP has notified the Water
& Power Credit Union and Great Western our deferred compensation administrator, of
the incident.
In addition the Retirement Office has arranged for a one year subscription to Equifax,
a credit monitoring service for each employee.
(my apologies for the cut & paste)
(my apologies for the cut & paste)
Posted by Unknown @ 2/14/2008 08:07:00 PM
17 Comments:
Wow. You got the scoop Joe B. I bet Zuma Dogg will be green with envy that he didn't get this story first.
Way big bummer for those employees.
Those people sure have had a bad year when it comes to privacy.
First the Daily News published all their salaries with their names, to drum up public anger over how much they're paid, and now this. Wonder if there's any connection or political motivation.
This is just the kind of thing the cops are worried about when it comes to their financial disclosures. As soon as any data is entered online, it can be stolen and lately, it often is.
Poor DWP.
DWP bid to hire lactation specialist draws howls.
One critic questions why the utility, a week after authorizing new rate hikes, is willing to spend up to $50,000 to teach employees how to breast-feed.
(full story in L.A. Times)
The bad news: your identity has been stolen.
The good news: we can teach you how to operate a breast.
This is the state of the public utility of America's second-largest city in the year 2008.
I went through an identity theft a few years ago, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Send all complaints to Suzanne Reyes at H.R.
All the more reason why Neighborhood Council members WILL NOT want to turn their personal financial information over to DONE; can you imagine what kind of security breaches there can be? Folks just won't sign up to serve.
Sam, that's a dumb excuse for not complying with Form 700 disclosures, and a red herring and you know it.
That form only wants to know what your financial interests are, what properties you own, in general terms.
It doesn't require bank account numbers and Social Security numbers, Dates of Birth, the stuff needed here. Just enough to know if you have a financial interest in what you're advocating or opposing.
Anyway, all Councilmembers and their staffs have to fill out those forms -- given their visibility, tney're the ones who should worry.
I sense a lawsuit coming from the DWP union!
Even though 8:42 is a loser for having to mention my name in this thread...I AM green with envy that I didn't get this first. HUGE, joe!!!
NO WONDER THAT STORY ABOUT DWP LACTOSE BREAST FEED TRAINING CAME OUT TODAY! (Gotta divert from this story...plus divert attention from the DWP rate hike that is back on the table, now that Prop S has passed.
(Better get another job...new LA rate hikes coming ontop of all the other new tax and fee hikes.
1037 au contraire - the form -even the revised form - asks enough questions about a person's employer, sources of income, accounts, holdings, etc. (as well as those of their spouse or domestic partner - and the city may require you to declare a roommate as a domestic partner even if you're not banging them) that a professional identity thief can come after you.
Zuma,
Just learning from the master, bro!
It's not enough for ID theft, and less that what any Council staff person has to file, and they don't even have a personal interest in any legislation or Council Files. Plus, anyone seems to think they should get any kind of info about Councilpeople, and Smith's point was and seconded by Cardenas and Huizar (who I normally don't even like) that if they have to give all that PLUS have their spouses and friends by dragged through the mud on a daily basis as "public figures" this isn't asking a lot of people who want a right that ONLY Councilmembers have right now.
Not even Commission members who are also volunteers and have to file the forms, have that. Just making it across the board.
There are plenty of more intrusive sources of info out there -- you can go online and see what property a person owns, or go backwards and see who owns that property, some sites give birthdates and unlisted phones for a few bucks' fee (which I HATE).
I'm all for privacy and getting that info off the "market." It's crazy for the DA and feds to go after people stealing identity when you can get that stuff on these vile personal search sites.
The County REcorder should stop giving that out to anyone who asks. Your DOB, Mother's Maiden Name (common bank passwords) are free to the public. It's insane to put this out there in this digital age.
So I'm all for MORE privacy protections but think NC members shouldn't be immune, especially when many of them DO have an agenda and make land use and variance decisions that affect neighbors, plus I've seen very enterprising fanatics wheel and deal to get their own and other NC Boards to sign on to their personal agendas.
Maybe 80% of NC's are really just trying to preserve and educate the neighborhood, but if you look at groups like the fanatics who run HOA's like Tract 7260 in WEst L A AND realize that many of their and other Board members are also on the NC and work so closely with each other... These people literally try to take on the powers of the City Council office and must have more accountability.
NC's get city money and they don't have to File the 700 if they don't want to open Council Files. I want to know WHO is claiming to represent me and their motives.
They generously offered credit monitoring ..? Who do they think pays for THAT?
In real life, heads roll when this stuff happens.
I heard it was an inside job done for political purposes. If that is the case, Susana Reyes should be fired BEFORE all the political mailings start arriving in employee mailboxes.
DWP is now asking the low income residents to complete a form which ALLOWES DWP TO ACCESS YOUR IRS FORMS. I am told that DWP has insisted that you "leave the year open' so they can check what year they want to check...why?
'That form only wants to know what your financial interests are, what properties you own, in general terms. '
If thats all, then I would do it if 'financial interests" is limited to businesses I own or have an interest in, my buildings in the County, or an elected member of a community.
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