According to the data security notice on its website, certain computers at Eastern Maine Community College were recently infected with malware. The college is notifying some 42,000 current and former students and employees of the possibility that personal information was exposed as a result of the infection. The group includes individuals who attended the college between the summer of 1998 and the summer of 2018, or who were employed by the college between 2008 and 2018. Usernames and passwords associated with college domain and email accounts, along with personally identifiable information like names, addresses, social security numbers, and birthdates may have been accessed by cybercriminals.
Identity theft is a multi-billion dollar problem. Although many companies and colleges have responded to this threat appropriately, some continue to risk the theft of the sensitive personal information entrusted to them. Unfortunately, it appears that Eastern Maine Community College may have failed to protect the sensitive information of current and former employees and students.
Identity theft can wreak havoc on peoples’ finances, credit history, and reputation, and can take time, money, and patience to resolve. Identity thieves may use stolen personal information for a variety of crimes, including credit card fraud, phone or utilities fraud, banking or finance fraud, or government fraud. Moreover, a person whose personal information has been compromised may not see the full extent of the identity theft or fraud for years.
Disclosure of personal information is unlawful, and the attorneys at Finkelstein, Blankinship, Frei-Pearson & Garber, LLP have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of victims of such disclosures. If you attended Eastern Maine Community College between the summer of 1998 and the summer of 2018, or were employed by the college between 2008 and 2018, please contact us immediately to discuss your legal options.