Saco River Medical Group Data Breach

Understanding the Saco River Medical Group Data Breach

On March 7, 2024, Saco River Medical Group (SRMG) detected a data breach that resulted in the potential exposure of personal information belonging to current and former employees. This incident was significant enough to warrant a formal notice to the affected individuals, as well as reporting to the Maine Attorney General's Office.

SRMG, a primary care and non-emergent walk-in clinic located in Conway, New Hampshire, discovered that fraudulent tax returns had been filed for several of its employees. This discovery prompted a swift response to secure their network and initiate an internal investigation to understand the scope and impact of the breach.

The types of information that may have been accessed include names, mailing addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and other tax-related information. The breach has affected 64 individuals nationwide, with 20 of those being from the state of Maine.

SRMG has taken this incident seriously and is implementing additional safeguards and enhanced security measures to better protect personal data within their systems. They have also reviewed and improved their policies and procedures related to system security and information lifecycle management.

To assist those affected, SRMG is offering access to Single Bureau Credit Monitoring, Single Bureau Credit Report, and Single Bureau Credit Score services for twelve months at no charge. These services are provided by Cyberscout through Identity Force, a TransUnion company specializing in fraud assistance and remediation services.

If you believe you have been affected by this breach or are a current or former employee of SRMG, it is important to take action to protect your information:

1. Enroll in the offered Credit Monitoring services by visiting Cyberscout's Identity Force and using the unique code 37K42B4CVN. Enrollment must be completed within 90 days from the date of the notification letter.

1. Review the additional materials provided by SRMG regarding resources available to you and steps you can further take to protect your personal information.

1. Consider placing a security freeze on your credit report to prevent unauthorized credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name.

1. Stay vigilant and monitor your accounts for any suspicious or unusual activity.

For more detailed information or assistance, you can contact SRMG's help line at 1-800-405-6108, available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, excluding holidays. Be sure to have your unique code ready when calling.

You can also obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies by visiting Annual Credit Report or calling 1-877-322-8228.

For further education on identity theft and protection measures, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.identitytheft.gov or by calling 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).

Read the full Notice to Consumers on the Maine Attorney General's website to understand all the details and recommendations provided by SRMG in response to this data breach.

Remember, taking prompt and informed action is key to protecting your personal information from potential misuse. Stay informed, stay secure.