The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has established a Web site providing more details about the recent online exposure of 3.5 million Texans' personal information. For background, see this previous post. The agency is currently mailing letters to those whose privacy may be in jeopardy.
Since community college educators are participants in the Group Benefits Program under the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS), all such employees should assume a risk of exposure. Members of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) are also vulnerable. The comptroller stresses there is no evidence at this point that the exposed information has been misused.
Some individuals have received fraudulent phone calls asking for their Social Security numbers and other personal data. One report says that scammers are calling people purporting to represent state officials from ERS, TRS, or the comptroller's office.
The Web site contains the latest information, with an opportunity to sign up for e-mail updates. Here's the link.
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