Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix Data Breach Affects 23,853

January 2024 Incident

On January 17, 2024, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix detected suspicious activities within its network environment. This discovery led to immediate actions to secure the network and the involvement of a specialized cybersecurity firm to determine the extent and nature of the breach. The investigation revealed that an unauthorized actor had accessed and possibly acquired sensitive data from the network, specifically targeting files associated with the Diocese-sponsored employee benefits programs. It was reported 23,853 people were affected.

Information Exposed

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Social Security number

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix's Response

Following the detection of the breach, The Diocese took swift measures to enhance the security of its systems. This included the deployment of additional monitoring tools and ongoing efforts to fortify network security. A leading forensic firm was enlisted to assist in the investigation and to ensure the integrity of the network post-breach. The Diocese has committed to ongoing assessments and improvements to their security protocols to prevent future incidents.

Recommended Actions for Affected Individuals

If you suspect that your data may have been compromised in this breach, it is crucial to act promptly to safeguard your information. Here are steps you can take:

1. Monitor your financial accounts for any unauthorized transactions and alert your financial institution immediately if you notice anything suspicious.
2. Obtain a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com and review it for discrepancies.
3. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports to make it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name. This can be done by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion).
4. Enroll in the free credit monitoring service offered by IDX through this enrollment link. Use the enrollment code provided in the notice you received.
5. Stay vigilant and report any identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission via IdentityTheft.gov.

About The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix serves over 1.2 million Catholics in Arizona, guided by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted. Established in 1969, it focuses on fostering a community through conversion, communion, and solidarity. The Diocese operates various programs and services that cater to the spiritual and social needs of its community members.

For further details on the data breach and how to protect your information, please refer to the notice provided to consumers, available at the bottom of this page.