07/09/2023
Concerning the recent cyberattack on the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
Everyone with a Louisiana driver's license or State ID likely had their personal information exposed in a massive cyberattack that has punctured agencies across the country. State officials are encouraging everyone to take protective measures.
The OMV believes that all Louisianans with a state-issued driverâs license, ID, or car registration have likely had the following data exposed to the cyber attackers:
⢠Name
⢠Address
⢠Social Security Number
⢠Birthdate
⢠Height
⢠Eye Color
⢠Driverâs License Number
⢠Vehicle Registration Information
⢠Handicap Placard Information
All Louisianans should take the following steps to safeguard their identity according to the State of Louisiana.
1. Prevent unauthorized new account activity and monitor credit
You can freeze and unfreeze credit for free, which stops others from opening new accounts and borrowing money in your name. Freezing your credit does not prevent the use of any existing credit cards or bank accounts. Freezing your credit may be done quickly online or by contacting the three major credit bureaus by phone:
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com/freeze
Equifax: 1-800-685-1111; www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
TransUnion: 1-888-909-8872; www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
The State also urges people to request and review credit reports from these agencies to find suspicious activity.
2. Change all your passwords
As an additional precaution, consider changing passwords for all online accounts (examples: banking, social media, and healthcare portals) in the event your personal data was used to access these accounts.
3. Protect your tax refund, returns with the Internal Revenue Service
To prevent someone else from filing returns or receiving your federal tax refund, request an âIdentity Protection Pinâ from the Internal Revenue Service by signing up at: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin
You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
4. Check your Social Security benefits
According to GOHSEP, individuals who are eligible for, applied for, or are receiving social security benefits (including disability) may consider registering for a ssa.gov account at: https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
If you suspect Social Security fraud, call the Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, or file a complaint online at oig.ssa.gov, GOHSEP says.
5. Report suspected identity theft
The State is urging anyone who suspects any abnormal activity involving their data, including financial information, to contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit www.ReportFraud.FTC.gov immediately.
