28,000 NJ unemployed IDs at Risk

Blunder puts IDs at risk
Social Security numbers 'misdirected' by agency Personal information of 28,000 'misdirected'

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

BY CHRIS MEGERIAN

STATEHOUSE BUREAU

Nearly 30,000 unemployed New Jersey residents now have something else to do besides looking for work: They can worry about who may have their Social Security number.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development notified thousands of people last week that their personal information may have been sent to companies they never worked for.

Those who received warnings were told the state had no way of knowing whether their information was sent incorrectly.

"This letter is to inform you that due to an error at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development your name and Social Security number may have been accidentally delivered to an employer for which you did not work," the letter reads.

Also included in the letter were details on how to halt the release of credit information, which is allowed by New Jersey's Identity Theft Prevention Act. However, the letter also noted a freeze on credit reports can create problems when consumers seek loans that require creditors to access credit information.

"It's important to remember the information was not stolen, simply misdirected," reads the letter. "Nevertheless, you should be aware of the situation and alert for irregularities that may suggest your personal information may have fallen into the wrong hands."

Letter recipients were directed to call the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs for more information on credit reporting and identity theft protection. (Full text at www.nj.com)

Maybe if these people are lucky, someone will use their identity with a job and help improve their credit score.

To learn more about Identity Theft and what to do if you are a victim, visit www.StopIdTheftCrime.com and subscribe to the newsletter to obtain your free 46 page eBook "Fighting Back Against Identity Theft".

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