While it's unclear whether a hacker stole the personal information of 38,941 current and former University of Alaska Fairbanks students, faculty and staff, authorities believe the announcement that it might have happened will certainly lead to fraud attempts.
"In an event like this, when you take this to the media to assist getting the information out, it turns around and bites us a little," said Sean McGee, UAF's acting police chief.
Officials have provided a Web site at www.uaf.edu/security with several pages of information available to those who might have had their names, Social Security numbers and partial e-mail addresses stolen by a hacker who installed an unauthorized program on a university computer server.
There is also a question line, (888) 331-8003, where attempted fraud can be reported.
In addition, UA officials will help those possibly affected to identify friend from foe by cutting off contact following an e-mail issued Thursday and a letter sent through the U.S. Postal Service.
Any follow-up contact from a source purporting to be the university should be considered a fraud attempt that should be reported.
Officials suggested those who fear their information might have been stolen to contact one of three major credit reporting agencies. Each offers a phone-in fraud alert, according to the university Web site.
* Equifax: (800) 525-6285 or www.equifax.com.
* Experian: (888)397-3742 or www.experian.com.
* TransUnion: (800) 680-7289 or www.transunion.com.
If you find evidence of identity theft, call UAF police at 474-6200.
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