A recent RCMP investigation found a potential privacy breach of thousands of employees’ personal information.
On Thursday, IH said the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP informed IH in January about a document found during an investigation that contained personal information about people, including current and former employees of IH.
According to IH, the document has more than 20,000 names on it.
It contains names, dates of birth, social insurance numbers, home addresses, phone numbers, and the individuals’ age in 2009.
However, IH says no patient information was included in the document retrieved by RCMP.
The release says there are around 7,000 current employees listed and IH is taking the steps to notify them.
However, due to the age of the data and its “broad scope,” the health authority is struggling to confirm the former employee's information nor where the information came from.
“Interior Health’s top priority is to ensure that personal information is always protected,” says Brent Kruschel, IH vice president of digital health.
“We are reaching out to employees who worked for us during these years to ensure that if their information is involved, that they receive supports, including credit monitoring, if they are part of this investigation.”
That’s why people who worked for IH between 2003 and 2009 are being asked to call a toll-free number to determine if their personal information is in the document.
Anyone who worked for IH during that six year period is encouraged to call 1-833-705-2569 between 7 am and 7 pm PDT Monday to Friday to determine their next steps.
There is also information available online.
The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP say in the release that no arrests or charges have been made in relation to the investigation.
Mounties say they are releasing the information so potentially impacted people can take the steps needed to “safeguard themselves.”
“It is a timely reminder that identity fraud continues to be a persistent threat in our community and brings to light the importance of taking proactive steps to safeguard yourself,” says Cst. Chris Terleski, Media Relations Officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.
“You can significantly reduce your risk by educating yourself and staying informed about common fraud schemes and tactics, regularly monitoring your credit, and routinely reviewing financial accounts for any unusual activity.”
