The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County Office of Education
Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE) announces a data incident that may have impacted individuals’ personal information. On March 6, 2023, MCOE experienced a network disruption that affected its ability to access certain files on its network. MCOE immediately began an investigation, which included working with third-party specialists. The investigation determined that certain portions of its network were accessed by an unauthorized individual. On March 22, 2023, they determined the type of information potentially impacted varied by individual but may have included name and the following: address, phone number, email address, student identification number, date of birth, Social Security number, passport number, driver’s license/state identification number, tax identification number, birth/marriage certificate, financial account information, IRS PIN number, medical information, health insurance information, fingerprint/iris scan, parent/guardian name, place of birth, student class list, course schedule/class list, disciplinary information, grades, class rank, and Individualized Educational Plan information.
In response to this incident, they changed passwords and are reviewing policies and procedures related to data protection. Additionally, in an abundance of caution, they are offering potentially impacted individuals access to credit monitoring and identity protection services. To obtain more information about this incident or enroll in these services, individuals should contact the dedicated assistance line at 1-833-570-2981, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST. Individuals are encouraged to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing credit reports/account statements for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Individuals may also place a fraud alert or credit freeze by contacting the credit reporting agencies: TransUnion 1-800-680-7289, P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016, transunion.com; Experian 1-888-397-3742, P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013, experian.com; Equifax 1-888-298-0045, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348, equifax.com.
Individuals can further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and steps to protect their personal information by contacting the credit reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), or their state Attorney General. The FTC may be reached at 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement, your state Attorney General, and the FTC. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.
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