Listen up, local folks. ALERT! From WLXT:
Columbia, SC-- Officials have uncovered an overseas plot to steal the identities of millions of people in South Carolina, according to WLTX.That number is to Experian, and not sure why I should to talk to a credit company about the SC Dept of Revenue fuck-up.... who I REALLY want to talk to, is who made the decision not to notify us back in August. (Apparently, that contact number is fried right now anyway, with "higher than normal call volume"... ya think?)
The CBS station confirmed the South Carolina Department of Revenue's website was hacked by someone in a foreign country. The agency is responsible for 32 separate state taxes, licenses, and your state income tax returns, and that contains your information.
The first breach occured on August 27, 2012 although we are told no information was taken at that time.
The extent of the breach was massive: an estimated 3.6 million Social Security numbers and 387,000 credit and debit card numbers were exposed. However, just 16,000 of these credit card numbers were not encrypted.
For perspective, there are almost 4.7 million South Carolinians, according to the 2012 U.S. Census, meaning three out of four people's Social Security numbers were compromised.
State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel told WLTX exclusively that this is one of the biggest things he has ever been a part of.
They have been working to secure your information. The state is offering credit counseling to those affected. Anyone who has paid taxes since 1998 should go to protectmyid.com/scdor or call -1-866-578-5422.
I doubt I am the only pissed-off person in South Carolina right now.
Blogging note--this event marks the first use of a new tag here on DEAD AIR: FUBAR.
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EDIT: More information HERE. Not much, though... but the Experian connection is explained further.