STATESVILLE, N.C. — A local healthcare company is now trying to contact 10,000 job applicants whose private information was exposed in a major security breach.
The applicants at Piedmont HealthCare had more than just their applications stolen; they had their Social Security numbers compromised.
Earlier this week, experts told Eyewitness News that having a Social Security number stolen is much worse than having credit card information stolen since it isn't as simple as changing the number.
Piedmont officials don't know if the Social Security numbers were taken but they are trying to contact those affected.
The applications were stored on the same server that Presbyterian Anesthesia Associations used to store their bill payment information.
Ten thousand patients there had their credit card information stolen.
Both companies say no medical information was leaked and that the FBI is already trying to track down who is responsible.
While this is happening, people those impacted in both cases are being offered free identity protection.
Piedmont HealthCare says patients who were impacted will receive a letter letting them known how they can use free identity monitoring and restoration services through Identity Force. Identity Force’s toll free number is 877-694-3367.
More information about identity theft can be found from the Federal Trade Commission at consumer.ftc.gov or from the N.C. Attorney General's Office at ncdoj.gov/consumer/aspx.
WSOC
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