Le Duff America, Inc. ("Le-Duff") - Notice Of Data Breach

DALLAS, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Le Duff America, Inc. ("Le Duff") is providing notice of a recent data privacy event that may have affected certain personal information. The confidentiality, privacy, and security of information is one of Le Duff's highest priorities and the organization takes this matter seriously.

What Happened? Le Duff became aware of unusual activity involving certain employee email accounts.  Le Duff immediately began an investigation with the assistance of third-party computer specialists.  The investigation determined that certain employee email accounts were accessed without authorization between August 28, 2019 and September 21, 2019.  While the investigation did not determine that personal information had been viewed by an unauthorized actor, Le Duff could not rule out the possibility of such activity.  Therefore, Le Duff immediately began a thorough review of the contents of the email accounts to determine whether sensitive information was present in the accounts at the time of the incident.  The results of the email account review indicated that personal information was present in an affected email account at the time of the incident.  To date, we are unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of any personal information as a result of this incident. 

What Information Was Involved?  Le Duff determined that the information present in the affected email accounts impacted by this event may include affected individuals' name, address, Social Security number, financial information, health insurance information, as well as medical history and treatment information. 

What We Are Doing. Le Duff is individually notifying those whose information was present in the affected email accounts.  As an added precaution, the organization is offering these individuals access to credit monitoring and identity protection services at no cost.    

What You Can Do. Le Duff encourages individuals to review the information below related to "Steps Individuals Can Take to Protect Against Identity Theft and Fraud," which provides detail on how to better protect against possible misuse of information.  Affected individuals can find guidance in the letters being sent to them.  

For More Information. Individuals who may have questions about the incident, may contact our dedicated call center at (855) 907-2098, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time, or find additional information at  https://www.lamadeleine.com/notice-of-data-breach. 

STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO PROTECT AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT AND FRAUD

Le Duff encourages individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, and to monitor credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect error.  Under U.S. law adults 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, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228.  You may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report.

You 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 may 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:

In order to request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information:

1. Your full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. If you have moved in the past five (5) years, provide the addresses where you have lived over the prior five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, military identification, etc.); and
7. If you are a victim of identity theft, include a copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft.

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 1-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 is a fraud alert lasting seven years.  Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the agencies listed below:

Additional Information

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. 

The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.identitytheft.gov, 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud.  Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim.  Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General.  This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.      

For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, 1-888-743-0023, www.oag.state.md.us.

For New Mexico residents, you have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in your credit file has been used against you, the right to know what is in your credit file, the right to ask for your credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to your file is limited; you must give your consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; you may limit "prescreened" offers of credit and insurance you get based on information in your credit report; and you may seek damages from violator. You may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  We encourage you to review your rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.

For New York residents, the Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; https://ag.ny.gov/.

For North Carolina residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6400, www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island Residents: The Rhode Island Attorney General can be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, www.riag.ri.gov, 1-401-274-4400. Under Rhode Island law, you have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this incident.  There are 9 Rhode Island residents impacted by this incident. 

SOURCE Le Duff America, Inc.