Printing Mistake Threatens Identity Theft

Printing Mistake Threatens Identity Theft

1/27/2006 – All Printing & Graphics Inc., Broadview, IL, said yesterday that it mistakenly mailed a list of names, Social Security numbers and home addresses of nearly 1,740 former school employees as part of a packet of health-insurance information it was contracted to print for the Chicago Public Schools.

Former employees who got the packets in the mail over the weekend said they were shocked to find the 125-page list of personal data about themselves and others. They feared the information could be delivered to the wrong address or end up in the wrong hands, leaving them vulnerable to identity theft.

The printer, hired to print, stuff and mail the packets, said it did not realize one document it sent contained the personal data. An e-mail from the Chicago Public Schools to the printer contained the personal data. The e-mail requested that the company send open enrollment information to former employees still receiving health-care coverage through the schools.

All Printing mailed a spreadsheet used to make mailing labels, thinking it was a list of health-care providers. It is not certain how many of the former employees received the personal information.

School officials plan to send out a follow-up letter today that will formally apologize for the mistake, thank recipients who might have already shredded the list and instruct those who have not to mail it back in a postage-paid envelope. The letter will also include information about credit-card and identity-theft protection, said a school spokesperson. www.allprintinginc.com

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