News
Experian announced to continue fraud alerts, Debix to cover ID theft losses
By Governor Rell's office
Aug 27, 2008 - 3:38:57 PM

Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced that more than 50,000 Connecticut residents, potentially affected by a temporary lapse in identity theft protection, will have any resulting losses covered by Debix Identity Protection Network, the company hired by the state last year after a security breach.

In addition, Experian, a major credit bureau has agreed to extend existing fraud alerts for a year for those residents. These measures resulted from an aggressive state inquiry of recent consumer complaints over a change in the way Experian was handling fraud alerts it received from Debix.

“We are pleased that Debix and Experian are quickly addressing our concerns, but we will remain vigilant to ensure that these safeguards meet the needs for the thousands of Connecticut taxpayers we are committed to protecting ,” Governor Rell said. “Any breach in security, no matter how brief, is unacceptable.”

Blumenthal said, “I am pleased that Experian and Debix have recognized their responsibility to protect more than 50,000 Connecticut taxpayers exposed by security breaches. Consumer protection is paramount because potential harm from identity theft would be lasting and substantial. My office is demanding details about the reasons for the identity theft protection lapse. With consumer protection in place, our focus now is to investigate the cause of this interrupted identity theft protection, and to ensure that Connecticut citizens receive fraud alert protection -- as Debix promised and the state paid for.”

The state hired the Austin, Texas-based Debix last year after a Department of Revenue Services laptop was stolen.

Experian recently notified certain Connecticut taxpayers that they would have to re-enroll for fraud alerts by providing confidential information – even though Debix, under a state contract, had promised to provide the fraud alerts for two years through the three national credit reporting agencies, including Experian.

Experian confirmed in writing today that, upon resubmission of a fraud alert request by Debix, it will renew the fraud alerts without further action by Connecticut taxpayers.

Blumenthal’s office has a continuing investigation into the Debix-Experian matter, and will ensure that Debix fulfills its obligation to provide identity theft protection pursuant to its state contract.

Governor Rell said, to date, the state has received no indications that any of the compromised information has been used

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