Academy Learning Centres stolen computers affect seniors
Technorati Tag: Security Breach
Date Reported:
5/22/08
Organization:
Academy Hearing Centres
Contractor/Consultant/Branch:
None
Victims:
Patients (mostly seniors)
Number Affected:
"Dozens"
Types of Data:
Names, addresses, credit-card numbers, health information and health-card numbers
Breach Description:
"Dozens of Calgary seniors are alarmed after learning their credit-card numbers, addresses and health-card numbers were stored on computers that were stolen recently. The Academy Hearing Centre in Brentwood Mall, which provides hearing tests and equipment, mostly to seniors, recently mailed out letters warning of the theft."
Reference URL:
CBC News
Report Credit:
CBC News
Response:
From the online source cited above:
Dozens of Calgary seniors are alarmed after learning their credit-card numbers, addresses and health-card numbers were stored on computers that were stolen recently.
The Academy Hearing Centre in Brentwood Mall, which provides hearing tests and equipment, mostly to seniors, recently mailed out letters warning of the theft.
The Academy Hearing Centre refused the CBC's request for an interview, saying only that there is no need for clients to be alarmed.
[Evan] This is it? Is this indicative of the service that one could expect from Academy Hearing Centres? Organizations should be more open and willing to talk about what they do to protect confidential information, unless they don't know themselves. Shame shame.
Victim Reaction(s):
"I got scared," said one elderly female client who purchased a hearing aid from the company.
She requested that her name not be released because she is worried about her security.
The woman said the thieves nabbed her name, address, health information and Alberta health-care number.
"It's the same thing, like somebody steals your social insurance number," she said.
She added that she was unable to change her health-card number.
"I called up Edmonton, the health insurance centre, and she said you have to wait about six months. Just have to notify your doctor, the family doctor. So somebody might be using my number, so let's hope it won't happen."
Commentary:
I wish I had more information to share about this breach, but this is all that is publicly available. In anyone has anything more to share, please feel free to comment. Posted on the Academy Learning Centres web site:
"if there is any question left unanswered, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team directly by calling: ph: 403. 210. 2482."
If you suspect that you may be affected by this breach, or if you want more information, I suggest that you call. Victims can demand answers; after all they are the data owners. What makes this breach especially difficult is the fact that it affects customers that are generally easy victims of fraud and deception.
Past Breaches:
Unknown
Date Reported: 5/22/08
Organization:
Academy Hearing Centres
Contractor/Consultant/Branch:
None
Victims:
Patients (mostly seniors)
Number Affected:
"Dozens"
Types of Data:
Names, addresses, credit-card numbers, health information and health-card numbers
Breach Description:
"Dozens of Calgary seniors are alarmed after learning their credit-card numbers, addresses and health-card numbers were stored on computers that were stolen recently. The Academy Hearing Centre in Brentwood Mall, which provides hearing tests and equipment, mostly to seniors, recently mailed out letters warning of the theft."
Reference URL:
CBC News
Report Credit:
CBC News
Response:
From the online source cited above:
Dozens of Calgary seniors are alarmed after learning their credit-card numbers, addresses and health-card numbers were stored on computers that were stolen recently.
The Academy Hearing Centre in Brentwood Mall, which provides hearing tests and equipment, mostly to seniors, recently mailed out letters warning of the theft.
The Academy Hearing Centre refused the CBC's request for an interview, saying only that there is no need for clients to be alarmed.
[Evan] This is it? Is this indicative of the service that one could expect from Academy Hearing Centres? Organizations should be more open and willing to talk about what they do to protect confidential information, unless they don't know themselves. Shame shame.
Victim Reaction(s):
"I got scared," said one elderly female client who purchased a hearing aid from the company.
She requested that her name not be released because she is worried about her security.
The woman said the thieves nabbed her name, address, health information and Alberta health-care number.
"It's the same thing, like somebody steals your social insurance number," she said.
She added that she was unable to change her health-card number.
"I called up Edmonton, the health insurance centre, and she said you have to wait about six months. Just have to notify your doctor, the family doctor. So somebody might be using my number, so let's hope it won't happen."
Commentary:
I wish I had more information to share about this breach, but this is all that is publicly available. In anyone has anything more to share, please feel free to comment. Posted on the Academy Learning Centres web site:
"if there is any question left unanswered, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team directly by calling: ph: 403. 210. 2482."
If you suspect that you may be affected by this breach, or if you want more information, I suggest that you call. Victims can demand answers; after all they are the data owners. What makes this breach especially difficult is the fact that it affects customers that are generally easy victims of fraud and deception.
Past Breaches:
Unknown
Comments