New book by Larry Connors Click here Improve your trading - See how
A laptop computer containing the names and Social Security numbers of more than 300 state employees was stolen in Charleston last month, but officials do not believe that any of the employees' personal information has been compromised.
"The Charleston Police Department stated in its report that it is believed this was a theft of opportunity and not a theft based on the information contained in the laptop," Tony O'Leary, a spokesman for the state Department of Administration, said Tuesday. "The state agencies have been assured that all information on the computer is password protected."
The laptop was stolen from a vehicle parked in a downtown Charleston parking lot in late September. It belonged to an employee of Suttle and Stalnaker, a private-sector accounting firm hired to conduct an independent audit of several state agencies.
O'Leary said independent audits are required by law for all state agencies receiving $500,000 or more of fed- eral funds.
The laptop contained information on 377 employees with the state Insurance Commission, 48 clients who had Access West Virginia insurance through the commission and about 100 clients of the Bureau of Medical Services and Child Support Enforcement divisions of the Department of Health and Human Resources.
Payroll and benefits information was listed on the computer for the 377 state Insurance Commission employees only, including either full names or first names and Social Security numbers.
Though officials said there is no evidence that personal information was compromised, O'Leary said letters of notification were sent to all affected parties as a precaution after the laptop was reported stolen.
Tami Nealy, director of public affairs for LifeLock, an identity theft protection company, said state employees who are concerned about identity theft should place a fraud alert with the country's three major credit bureaus -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
A fraud alert tells lending agencies to contact a customer to confirm his or her identity before a new line of credit is opened or changes are made to an existing account. Customers are then asked to respond to a series of questions that are answered on their credit report.
"They're answers that an identity thief wouldn't necessarily have," Nealy said.
Fraud alerts do not protect against all types of identity theft and lenders are not legally required to abide by them, but Nealy said "it's the best front line of defense against identity theft there is, period."
To see more of The Dominion Post or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dominionpost.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index
About TradingMarkets | Contact | Advertise | Careers | Link to Us | Site Map | Help | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Testimonials | Feedback
The Connors Group, Inc. ("Company") is not an investment advisory service, nor a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer and does not purport to tell or suggest which securities or currencies customers should buy or sell for themselves. The analysts and employees or affiliates of Company may hold positions in the stocks, currencies or industries discussed here. You understand and acknowledge that there is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities and/or currencies. The Company, the authors, the publisher, and all affiliates of Company assume no responsibility or liability for your trading and investment results. Factual statements on the Company's website, or in its publications, are made as of the date stated and are subject to change without notice.
It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results of any individual trader or trading system published by Company are not indicative of future returns by that trader or system, and are not indicative of future returns which be realized by you. In addition, the indicators, strategies, columns, articles and all other features of Company's products (collectively, the "Information") are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Examples presented on Company's website are for educational purposes only. Such set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. Accordingly, you should not rely solely on the Information in making any investment. Rather, you should use the Information only as a starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion regarding investments. You should always check with your licensed financial advisor and tax advisor to determine the suitability of any investment.
HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING AND MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY BROKERAGE AND OTHER SLIPPAGE FEES. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER- OR OVER-COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.
The Connors Group, Inc.
15260 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 2200
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
© Copyright 2009 The Connors Group, Inc.
