Critical to Identity Theft Prevention and Protection is to be aware of the scams and frauds that are created and implemented constantly by a dynamic and intelligent criminal force. Cyber crimes, scams, frauds and new technologies used to steal identities are in constant flux but you can be made aware by reviewing the latest threats below.

Did you know about these threat alerts?

	3/11/2009 Unknown		Sprint Sprint is warning several thousand customers that a former employee sold or otherwise provided their account data without permission between Dec. 2008 and Jan 2009. The information that may have been compromised includes your name, address, wireless phone number, Sprint account number, the answer to your security question, and the name of the authorized point of contact on your account.

	2/23/2009 101 affected		University of Florida- LDAP Directory On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, the University of Florida discovered a configuration error in its LDAP directory service that would allow anyone to query the directory for fields that are normally protected from unauthorized access. A human error was made while making changes to the directory service that created the exposure. The error was fixed immediately after it was detected and the 9 digit number field was permanently removed from the directory. Reviewing the directory logs, we discovered queries that might have returned the name and a 9 digit directory field that is the Social Security Number (SSN) for 101 users. The query response screen did not identify the 9 digit number as an SSN.

	2/19/2009 97,200 affected		University of Florida - Grove On January 14, 2009, the University of Florida discovered that a server was accessed by an unauthorized intruder from outside UF. This server contained a file with names, and Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for 97,200 people that used the "Grove" system between 1996 and 2009. Although no evidence was found that this information was accessed, there is no absolute certainty that it was not.

	1/8/2008 260,000 affected		Wisconsin Dept. of Health and Family Services Social Security numbers were printed on about 260,000 informational brochures sent by a vendor hired by the state to recipients of SeniorCare and other state programs. The mailing was first reported by WKOW on January 8. The state Department of Health and Family Services issued a statement saying the mistake was the fault of EDS, a private vendor for state Medicaid services. Karen Timberlake, deputy secretary of the state department, said the mailing went to about 260,000 Medicaid, SeniorCare, and BadgerCare members.

	12/28/2007 10,501 affected		US Air Force On November 18, a laptop belonging to an Air Force band member at Bolling Air Force Base in DC turned up missing. The information included SSNs, birth dates, and telephone numbers of active and retired Air Force members. The Air Force tells WSFA 12 News it was intended to be used for an Air Force Band Historical Documentation.

	3/19/2007 Unkonw		SunGard Higher Education A thief stole a laptop from a parked SunGard employee's vehicle. Names, SSNs, bank transfer ABA numbers and account number and/or credit card information may have been on the laptop. SunGard is an information technology service company and does data management for some New York colleges. Multiple colleges have reported being affected by this theft. A final total is not known.

	1/17/2007 94,000,000 affected		TJX TJX Cos reporter that intruders broke into computers sometime in mid December and stolen an unknown amount of customer data including credit card, debit card, check and merchandise return transactions for TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and AJ Wright stores in the US. TJX's Bob's Stores and TK MAX stores are also involved. In addition, Bruce Spitzer, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bankers Association, said at least eight banks have been affected by a similar breach of information, related to debit cards they issued. The breach may have started as early as 2003. A multi- state and FBI investigation is underway. Update: March- the number of affected consumers revealed in a filing with the SEC is 45.7 million customer records. TJX also reported in the filing that another 455,000 customers who returned merchandise without receipts had their personal data stolen, including drivers' license numbers. Update: A settlement has been reached based on info from VISA and Mastercard. Total records updated to 94 million.