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Contact: Deborah Sturm Rausch
518.473.9472 | 518.474.2896
 For Immediate Release: September 29, 2009

The New York State Consumer Protection Board Issues Advice for New Yorkers Affected by the Express Scripts Data Breach

Consumers who have recently received a letter from Express Scripts, Inc. (Express Scripts), a company that administers drug benefits, informing them that some time last year an unknown person may have gained unauthorized access to their personal identifiable information, including the person’s name, Social Security number and date of birth, as well as their prescription information, maintained by Express Scripts, should consider taking steps to help prevent the possibility of falling victim to identity theft, financial and medical fraud.

The CPB recommends that affected New Yorkers:

  1. Get the facts from the notification: Read the letter carefully to understand what assistance the company may be offering you. If you have questions, contact Kroll Inc., the company assisting Express Scripts, at the phone number provided in the letter.
  2. Call the credit reporting agencies: Report the breach to all three of the major credit reporting agencies by calling any one of the following toll-free fraud numbers: Trans Union 1-800-680-7289, Experian 1-888-397-3742 and Equifax 1-800-525-6285. You will reach an automated telephone system that allows you to flag your file with a fraud alert at all three agencies. You will also be sent instructions on how to obtain a copy of your report from each of the credit agencies. A fraud alert helps protect you against the possibility of an identity thief opening new accounts in your name. When a merchant checks the credit history of someone applying for credit, the retailer receives a notice that there may be fraud on the account, and must take steps to verify the identity of the applicant.
  3. Order your credit reports for free: You may order one credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies every twelve months. You can place your order online or by phone at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228. We recommend that you order one report from a different credit reporting agency every four months to help maximize your protection. Should you become aware that you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an additional free credit report each year.
  4. Watch for signs of fraud:
  5. Read your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements to confirm that the services for which you or your insurance company will be billed are actually services you received.
  6. Read your credit reports, look for accounts you don't recognize, especially accounts opened recently. Look in the inquiries section for names of creditors from whom you haven’t requested credit. Some companies bill under names other than their store names. The credit reporting agency will be able to tell you when that is the case. You may find some inquiries identified as “promotional.” These occur when a company has obtained your name and address from a credit reporting agency to send you an offer of credit. Promotional inquiries are not signs of fraud. (You are automatically removed from lists to receive unsolicited offers of this kind when you place a fraud alert.)
  7. Read your financial statements, including your credit card statements, checking account statements, mortgage and auto loan statements, etc. carefully.
  8. As a general precaution, look in the personal information section of your credit report for any address listed for you where you’ve never lived.
  9. Close all compromised accounts. This is the best way to reduce your risk of an ongoing breach.
  10. Retain all paperwork. Maintain a file documenting all the actions you have taken along with copies of all the letters you have written and the documents you have reviewed.
  11. Learn more about personal information protections, such as security freezes and fraud alerts, from the CPB at http://www.nysconsumer.gov/internet_security.htm. Find general consumer protection resources at www.nysconsumer.gov.
  12. Should you have evidence that you are a victim of identity theft:
  13. File a police report and contact a Kroll representative identified in Step 1 above.
  14. File a report and an affidavit with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to provide the details of your case. Visit www.ftc.gov or call 1-877-IDTHEFT.
  15. File a complaint online with the CPB at: http://www.nysconsumer.gov/complaint.htm. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may contact the CPB's Consumer Helpline at 1-800-697-1220.

The CPB, established in 1970 by the New York State Legislature, is the State's top consumer watchdog and think tank. The CPB's core mission is to protect New Yorkers by publicizing unscrupulous and questionable business practices and product recalls; conducting investigations and hearings; enforcing the "Do Not Call" law; researching issues; developing legislation; creating consumer education programs and materials; responding to individual marketplace complaints by securing voluntary agreements; and, representing the interests of consumers before the Public Service Commission and other State and federal agencies.

To file a consumer complaint with the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB), call our toll-free hotline at 800-697-1220 or visit CPB’s website at www.nysconsumer.gov. In addition to the online complaint form, the website is home to important consumer safety information.




Last Modified: June 01, 2010