A computer server holding the names and Social Security numbers of about 25,000 North Carolina Department of Transportation employees, contractors and other state employees had a security breach, officials announced Friday.
The breach affects employees who were issued identification badges from 1997 until 2006. Officials have no evidence that the personal information was accessed, according to the DOT.
People who used their employee identification number instead of their Social Security number are not at risk. The department is working to contact the affected individuals by mail, and the State Bureau of Investigation has also been notified.
Individuals who detect a problem with any of the personal information listed above should notify local law enforcement and contact one of the three credit bureaus to place a 90-day fraud alert on their credit report.
That bureau will notify the other two bureaus to also flag the file.
Individuals may also place a security freeze on their credit reports to prevent anyone from being able to use their private information to obtain credit in their name.
The freeze can be lifted in three business days using a special password if the individual needs to obtain credit.