A former state contractor allegedly accessed a workers' compensation database to steal personal information and fraudulently obtain credit, the Department of Industrial Accidents announced today.
The agency said up to 1,200 people who had submitted workers' compensation claims to the state -- and their Social Security numbers -- may have been compromised, although officials have evidence that only three people had their personal information used improperly.
The worker, who was not immediately identified, was fired, arrested and charged with identity fraud. Law enforcement officials notified the agency of the alleged breach.
"The DIA has taken swift action to inform the public and the 1,200 individuals potentially affected by this situation," the agency said in a statement. "DIA has sent written notifications directly to the potentially impacted claimants. In addition, DIA has posted information on its web site and established a telephone hotline to address claimant concerns."
The statement added: "All of us at the Department of Industrial Accidents deeply regret what happened. We take our public trust very seriously and we are taking immediate steps to ensure that this situation does not happen again."