UPDATE (March 2): Although the letter indicates a May 31 cutoff for signing up for credit monitoring, individuals can still enroll after that date.
As recently reported, Comprehensive Health Services (CHS) has informed both the union and the Seafarers Plans that the company “was the target of a cyber intrusion” that may have involved current and former SIU members’ personal information.
CHS has mailed a letter to all potentially affected Seafarers. Members are asked to read it, and are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the free identity protection services offered by CHS via Equifax. For a PDF copy of the letter, click HERE.
Key points from that letter include the following:
- There is no evidence that anyone’s personal information has been used inappropriately.
- As a precaution, CHS will offer free credit monitoring and identity protection services to members who receive the letter and choose to enroll.
- CHS has taken extensive action to hold the perpetrator(s) accountable, including working with law enforcement.
- The company has implemented corrective and preventive measures that were recommended by cybersecurity experts specifically working on this incident.
- The records that may have been compromised are from prior to the year 2019.
Another vital excerpt from the letter points out: “Neither CHS nor the Seafarers International Union will contact you to confirm any personally identifiable information. If you are contacted by anyone purporting to represent CHS or the Seafarers International Union and asking you for your information, do not provide it.”
The letter goes into greater detail about the original incident, the steps taken for mitigation, and how to enroll in the complimentary individual data protection services. An enclosure with the CHS letter spells out additional steps that may be taken to further protect individual information.
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