February 9, 2015
The Anthem data breach has been in the news for the past few days. The information of current and former plan members may have been compromised. This includes names, addresses, email addresses, medical ID numbers and social security numbers.
Our tax commissioner is urging those who may have been affected by the Anthem data breach and are expecting federal or state income tax refunds to file their taxes quickly. Doing so may prevent scammers from using personal information to make false refund claims.
Taxpayers who use Turbo Tax should also be aware of fake emails seeking personal information to ultimately steal tax refunds.
At this point, Anthem does not believe that credit card or medical information was taken.
The company will be contacting those who may have been impacted by letter informing them that they are eligible for free identity theft/credit monitoring. In the meantime, consumers may obtain additional information by calling Anthem at 1-877-263-7995 or visiting www.anthemfacts.com. The state has set up its own website on the Anthem breach, www.ct.gov/anthemadvice.
In addition, the Attorney General's office is advising residents to report any suspicious activity on their credit reports or financial accounts to law enforcement. They can also contact the Attorney General's Privacy Task Force by emailing: attorney.general@ct.gov or calling 860-808-5318.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.