SEATTLE, November 29, 2021 / PRNewswire / – As a precaution, Sound Generations is advising its customers and others of two data security incidents that may have resulted in unauthorized access to personal information. Sound Generations sincerely apologizes for these incidents and for any inconvenience they may cause to its customers and others concerned. Although Sound Generations is not aware of any fraudulent use of personal information at this time, Sound Generations provides details of the events, the actions taken by Sound Generations in response, and the resources available to assist its customers and others concerned. to protect themselves against the potential abuse of their information.
Notification letters are mailed to affected individuals. This notice is intended for people who may not receive the notification letter due to incorrect or incomplete mailing addresses.
Our organization: Sound Generations is a comprehensive 501c3 nonprofit that serves seniors and adults with disabilities in King County, Washington. Our organization is from Washington State largest full service provider for aging adults in King County. We strive to expand the provision of food security, transport, health and welfare and assistance services to underserved and marginalized populations. Our affiliate programs and service sites provide resources and services accessible through King County.
What happened: Sound Generations has discovered that an unauthorized party has gained access to its computer systems and encrypted information stored on our systems on July 18, 2021 and September 18, 2021. Sound Generations put an end to the unauthorized access and quickly opened an investigation to determine the extent of the incidents. The investigation could not rule out that the information stored on Sound Generations systems was viewed by an unauthorized party. After the conclusion of the third party’s forensic investigations, Sound Generations conducted its own investigation and due diligence to identify the individuals involved and the nature of their personal information that may have been compromised. Sound Generations has determined that some of its customer information was potentially affected as a result of the incidents. This investigation was necessary to provide accurate information and advice to those potentially affected. To date, Sound Generations has no reason to believe that there has been any misuse of information relating to potentially affected persons.
What information was involved: The personal information that Sound Generations receives is generally limited to demographic and health information, including name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth and whether or not its customers have a Health Insurance. For people who have participated in the EnhanceFitness program, their data may also include their health insurance number. Medical history and medical condition may also be included for individuals who provided this information to Sound Generations. Please note that Sound Generations does not collect or store social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information, credit or debit card information from its customers.
Please note, however, that since becoming aware of these incidents, Sound Generations has not received any indication that its customer information was used by the unauthorized actor or any unauthorized party to commit fraud. . Sound Generations advises its customers and others of incidents as a precaution.
What we do: Sound Generations values the privacy of its customers’ information and will continue to do everything possible to protect it. Since the incident, Sound Generations has significantly improved its cybersecurity controls, including changing passwords and installing additional security on its systems.
What you can do:
- You should always remain vigilant for incidents of fraud and identity theft by reviewing credit card account statements and monitoring your credit report for any suspicious or unusual activity.
- Please notify your financial institution immediately if you detect suspicious activity on any of your accounts, including unauthorized transactions or new accounts opened in your name that you do not recognize. You should also promptly report any fraudulent activity or suspected identity theft incidents to law enforcement authorities.
- You can request a copy of your credit report, free of charge, directly from each of the three credit bureaus nationwide. To do so, free of charge once every 12 months, please visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll free at 1-877-322-8228. Contact details for the three nationwide credit bureaus are listed below.
- You have the right to file or get a police report if you are the victim of identity fraud. Please note that in order to file a crime report or an incident report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide proof that you have been a victim. A police report is often required to dispute fraudulent items. You can usually report suspected cases of identity theft to local law enforcement or the Attorney General.
- You can take the steps recommended by the Federal Trade Commission to protect yourself against identity theft. The FTC’s website has useful information at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
You can get a copy of your credit report for free whether or not you suspect unauthorized activity on your account. You can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies nationwide. To order your free credit report, please visit www.annualcreditreport.com, or call toll free at 1-877-322-8228. You can also order your free Annual Credit Report by sending a completed Annual Credit Report Request Form (available at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports) to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, Georgia, 30348-5281.
You can also place fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus over the phone or online. A fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures, including contacting you, before opening new accounts or changing your existing accounts. For this reason, placing a fraud alert can protect you, but can also delay you when seeking credit. From September 21, 2018, the initial fraud alerts last for one year. Victims of identity theft can also get an extended fraud alert for seven years.
You have the right to place a security freeze on your credit report. A security freeze is designed to prevent credits, loans and services from being approved on your behalf without your consent. To place a security freeze on your credit report, you must apply to each consumer reporting agency. You can make this request by certified mail, overnight mail, regular stamped mail, or by following the instructions found on the websites listed below. The following information must be included when requesting a security freeze (note that if you are requesting a credit report for your spouse or a minor under the age of 16, this information must also be provided for them): (1) Complete name, with the middle initial and all suffixes; (2) Social security number; (3) date of birth; (4) current address and any previous address within the past five years; and (5) any applicable incident report or complaint to a law enforcement agency or the Motor Vehicle Registry. The request must also include a copy of a government issued ID card and a copy of a recent utility bill or bank or insurance statement. It is essential that each copy is legible, displays your name and current mailing address, as well as the date of issue. From September 21, 2018, it is free to place, lift or remove a safety freeze. You can also impose a safety freeze on children under 16. You can get a free safety freeze by contacting one or more of the following national consumer information agencies:
Additionally, to help protect your deceased family member, there are steps you can take to request a copy of your deceased family member’s credit report. An executor or a surviving spouse can ask one of the three credit bureaus for a copy of the deceased person’s credit report. An executor or a surviving spouse may also request that the following two notices be placed on a deceased person’s credit report:
- “Deceased – Do not issue credit”; Where
- “If a credit application is made, please notify the following person (s) (for example, a surviving parent, executor / estate trustee and / or local law enforcement agency – advising the relationship ). ”
The contact details for the three national credit reporting companies are as follows:
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Equifax |
Experiential |
TransUnion |
For more information on Identity Theft and Deceased Person, please visit http://www.idtheftcenter.org and search “FS 117 – Identity Theft and Deceased Person – Prevention and Advice for Victims” . You must also notify the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service of the death of a family member and that you have received this letter.
More information: Sound Generations sincerely regrets any inconvenience these incidents may cause to its customers and remains committed to protecting their information. For media inquiries, please contact toll free 1-833-770-0673, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
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