July 26, 2023 – Crown Point Community School Corporation (“Crown Point”) is providing notice of a data security event that may have affected personal information related to certain individuals.  While Crown Point is unaware of any actual or attempted identity fraud in relation to the incident, it is providing potentially affected individuals with information about the incident and steps individuals may take to help protect against the possible misuse of their information.

What Happened? On November 21, 2022, Crown Point Community School Corporation (“Crown Point”) discovered unusual activity on some of our computer systems.  Upon this discovery, we quickly commenced an investigation which included working with third-party forensic specialists to understand the nature and scope of the activity. Our investigation determined that certain Crown Point systems were subject to unauthorized access between November 17, 2022, and November 21, 2022, and that data may have been accessed by the unauthorized actor while on the network. As a result, Crown Point initiated a comprehensive review of the data determined to be at risk to assess the type of information potentially affected and to whom it related. On June 7, 2023, we completed this review and determined certain individuals could be impacted.

What Information Was Involved? The investigation determined the following types of information could potentially be affected: name, Social Security number, payment card information, financial account information, and driver’s license/state ID number.  

What We Are Doing. Crown Point takes the confidentiality, privacy, and security of information in its care seriously. Upon discovering this incident, we quickly took steps to investigate and respond to the incident including reviewing and enhancing our existing policies and procedures to reduce the likelihood of a similar future event. Crown Point reported this incident to federal law enforcement and is notifying individuals and relevant regulators as required.  Moreover, as an added precaution, Crown Point is offering complimentary access to credit monitoring and identity restoration services to potentially impacted individuals out of an abundance of caution. 

How Will Individuals Know If They Are Affected By This Incident? Crown Point mailed notice letters to individuals whose protected information was contained in the files at issue and for whom it has a valid mailing address. 

What You Can Do.  Crown Point encourages you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity. You may also review and consider the information and resources outlined in the below “Steps You Can Take to Protect Personal Information.”

For More Information. If you have questions, please call our dedicated assistance line at 1-888-575-0555 (toll free), Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Eastern Time (excluding U.S. holidays).  You may write to Crown Point at 200 East North St., Crown Point, IN 46307.

 

Steps You Can Take to Help Protect Your Information

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.  To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228.  You may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of your credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost.  An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file.  Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit.  If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years.  Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization.  The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent.  However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit.  Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report.  To request a credit freeze, you will need to provide the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial, as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of identity theft.

Should you wish to place a fraud alert or a credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax	Experian	TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/	https://www.experian.com/help/	https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045	1-888-397-3742	1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069	Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013	TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788	Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013	TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

 

Additional Information

You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General.  The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261.  The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them.  You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above.  You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud.  Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim.  Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General.  This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.