Contra Costa County officials have started sending letters to possible victims of a computer breach that occurred between July and August of last year, allowing “unauthorized access to certain county employee email accounts.” Officials said in a press release that an investigation into the breach was finished on March 11 and that letters and email alerts to possible victims began on April 15.
According to the inquiry, an unauthorized individual accessed the accounts multiple times between June 24, 2021, and August 12, 2021. However, it was not determined if the unauthorized user viewed or downloaded any emails or attachments in the accounts. The investigation revealed that emails and attachments containing information relating to some county workers and people who corresponded with the county’s Employment and Human Services Department were viewed or downloaded.
Officials added in the statement that this information contained names and one or more of the following: Social Security numbers, driver’s license or state-issued identity numbers, financial account numbers, passport numbers, medical information, or/and health insurance information. The county was providing free credit monitoring to qualified individuals. They have also launched a dedicated, toll-free contact line for anybody with queries about the event and giving free credit monitoring to those who qualify.
Individuals with queries or who want to know if their personal information was stored in one of the email accounts should contact 1-855-604-1854 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Moreover, the county’s webpage at www.contracosta.ca.gov provides information on how citizens may help secure their personal data.
