Dear TPS Families:
On Friday, October 16, the district learned that the cyberattack that impacted learning on the first day of the semester on September 8, 2020 also targeted the personal information of our students, including Social Security numbers. As we indicated in previous notices, other school districts across the country have dealt with similar issues. The district immediately contacted the FBI and Tetra Defense, a cyber-forensics company, to assist in ensuring our systems were secure.
Currently, district administrators are working diligently to determine the full nature of this breach and are cooperating with the law enforcement investigation. Upon discovering the cyberattack, the district immediately took steps to secure computer systems and determine what personal data was accessed and considered at risk.
At this time, the district has not confirmed any actual or attempted misuse of the stolen information; however, we want to provide employees with an update and share the steps that are being taken to address the situation.
We are encouraging all parents and guardians to monitor and review your account statements and credit reports for suspicious activity. Under U.S. law, you are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit-reporting bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
You may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report.
Please know that you also have the right to place a security freeze on your credit report, which will prohibit a consumer-reporting agency from releasing information in your credit report without your express authorization. The security freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a security freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report might delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a security freeze on your credit report. Should you wish to place a security freeze, please contact the major consumer reporting agencies listed below:
Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094
1-888-909-8872
www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
Equifax
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
1-800-685-1111
www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
In order to request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information:
• Your full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
• Social Security number;
• Date of birth;
• If you have moved in the past five (5) years, provide the addresses where you have lived over the prior five years;
• Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
• A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, military identification, etc.);
As an alternative to a security freeze, you have the right to place an initial or extended fraud alert on your file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which lasts seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the agencies listed below:
Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com/fraud/center.html
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resource/place-fraud-alert
Equifax
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348
1-888-766-0008
www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
You can further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes, and the steps you can take to protect yourself by contacting the consumer reporting agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General.
If you discover that you are a victim of identity theft, please contact authorities and retain a copy of the report or complaint filed.
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