Washington State Health Agency Reports Employee Data Theft: What Families Need to Know

The Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) announced that a former employee improperly accessed personal data of approximately 8,600 people in March.

This was not an outside hacker attack. Instead, someone who worked at the agency took information they were not supposed to have. The agency discovered this through an internal investigation. If you or a family member has received services from DSHS, your personal information may have been accessed without permission. This could include details like your name, address, Social Security number, or health information. DSHS provides various services to Washington families, including food assistance, child support, and behavioral health programs. The agency has not specified exactly which programs were affected. If you receive a notification letter from DSHS, read it carefully and follow any instructions they provide.

Here is what you should do right now:

1. Watch your mail for an official letter from DSHS explaining if you are affected.
2. Check your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com to look for any accounts you did not open.
3. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the three credit bureaus.
4. Be extra cautious of any emails or calls claiming to be from DSHS asking for personal information, as scammers often take advantage of these situations. To protect yourself long term, monitor your financial accounts and medical statements regularly for anything unusual. Sign up for account alerts from your bank so you get notified of transactions. Keep important documents secure at home. Remember that government agencies will rarely call or email asking you to verify sensitive information. When in doubt, contact the agency directly using a phone number you look up yourself, not one provided in an unexpected message.