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Security alert as thousands told bank details have been stolen

5:10pm Friday 23rd February 2007

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THOUSANDS of county council staff are at risk of identity theft after their highly confidential bank and national insurance details were stolen.

A lap top computer containing the personal information of up to 19,000 staff - complete with names and addresses - was taken in a street robbery.

Despite the seriousness of the security breach, in a letter to staff Mike Weaver, the director of financial services at Worcestershire County Council, said he did not want to cause unnecessary concern'.

He said the laptop was owned and being used by a member of staff employed by the council's IT supplier SERCO who was robbed outside the county several days ago'.

"The personal details include names and addresses," he said.

"Other details relating to national insurance and bank accounts are also held on the computer but are not so easily deciphered.

"Although the theft appears random rather than planned and the computer is password protected, there is nevertheless a risk that this information might be misused."

Adrian Gregson, of UNISON's Worcester branch secretary, said he was very concerned about the theft on behalf of his members.

"We will be raising issues about the council's practices and policies and asking if they will be looking at how this sort of thing is done in the future," he added.

"This has potential to effect a considerable number of staff and we need to ensure that this doesn't happen again.

"In theory not all staff are affected but all have been told."

Patrick Birch, Worcestershire county council's director of corporate services, said: "We have sought guidance from the Information Commission and we are continuing to work with staff, senior managers and unions to give concerned staff our full support and guidance.

"In addition, we are working SERCO Solutions to investigate the matter and help improve their procedures relating to the movement of sensitive data.

"Our first priory in this matter is to protect the confidentiality of our staff and to do everything possible to protect them. We will continue to monitor the situation with the police."

All staff have now been urged to be vigilant and phone a confidential internal hotline which has been set up if they have any suspicions that their personal details are being misused.

The police are monitoring the situation and the incident has also been reported to the Information Commission.

* Are you one of the employees affected? Call the Worcester News on 01905 742260 or email wenedit@worcesternews.co.uk

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Your Say YourWorcester News

andy lewis, worcester says...
5:26pm Fri 23 Feb 07

What on earth was a laptop containing all these confidential details doing off council permises?
heads need to roll for this breathtaking degree of negligence and incompetence

Report this post »

andy lewis, worcester says...
5:26pm Fri 23 Feb 07

What on earth was a laptop containing all these confidential details doing off council permises?
heads need to roll for this breathtaking degree of negligence and incompetence

Report this post »

Concerned and angry county council employee, WORCESTER says...
9:30pm Fri 23 Feb 07

Totally agree with previous subscriber's comment.I haven't been notified and yet someone is reported as saying that "not all staff have been affected,but all have been told"- whatever this means!Amazingly - a street robbery!Where, out of county, I would like to know! What on earth was this individual doing carrying a laptop with such sensitive information
down the street -side/high or otherwise. Could s/he have been using any spare pouches for holding the shopping?
I suggest the county council reviews its contract with this company if there are such flagrant breaches of security.

Report this post »

Concerned and angry county council employee, WORCESTER says...
9:30pm Fri 23 Feb 07

Totally agree with previous subscriber's comment.I haven't been notified and yet someone is reported as saying that "not all staff have been affected,but all have been told"- whatever this means!Amazingly - a street robbery!Where, out of county, I would like to know! What on earth was this individual doing carrying a laptop with such sensitive information
down the street -side/high or otherwise. Could s/he have been using any spare pouches for holding the shopping?
I suggest the county council reviews its contract with this company if there are such flagrant breaches of security.

Report this post »

Amanda, Worcestershire says...
10:26pm Fri 23 Feb 07

andy lewis wrote:
What on earth was a laptop containing all these confidential details doing off council permises? heads need to roll for this breathtaking degree of negligence and incompetence
I guess there is every chance that the person who stole this laptop would not have known the value of what they had stolen. Well, thanks to those who have taken the trouble to contact the Worcester News they probably know now.

Report this post »

Amanda, Worcestershire says...
10:26pm Fri 23 Feb 07

andy lewis wrote:
What on earth was a laptop containing all these confidential details doing off council permises? heads need to roll for this breathtaking degree of negligence and incompetence
I guess there is every chance that the person who stole this laptop would not have known the value of what they had stolen. Well, thanks to those who have taken the trouble to contact the Worcester News they probably know now.

Report this post »

And that's not all..., Worcester says...
6:02am Sat 24 Feb 07

I've been told that it's not just Council employees, but police, fire brigade and ambulance staff as well. Have they been told that their addresses and bank details could be seen by anyone?

Report this post »

And that's not all..., Worcester says...
6:02am Sat 24 Feb 07

I've been told that it's not just Council employees, but police, fire brigade and ambulance staff as well. Have they been told that their addresses and bank details could be seen by anyone?

Report this post »

Barry Stamp, Truro, Cornwall says...
8:58am Sat 24 Feb 07

Just to let you know that anyone worried at all about identity theft can access our annualcreditreport website and obtain their credit report for free and also gain access to the free services available from the National Identity Theft Assistance Centre. I would like to stress that this is a completely free service.

Report this post »

Barry Stamp, Truro, Cornwall says...
8:58am Sat 24 Feb 07

Just to let you know that anyone worried at all about identity theft can access our annualcreditreport website and obtain their credit report for free and also gain access to the free services available from the National Identity Theft Assistance Centre. I would like to stress that this is a completely free service.

Report this post »

Still concerned and angry cc employee, Worcester says...
12:18pm Sat 24 Feb 07

Amanda- it would be obvious merely by reading the contents of the relevant article either in the Worcester News,on this webpage and possibly in the national press, once this story reaches their attention, WITHOUT the need for employees such as myself to post follow-up comments.
I received my letter this morning. Assuming the other 18,999 affected individuals received their "unfortunate tidings", I estimate the cost to the CC is already £5,700+ presumably the extra cost with the additional postage costs for other affected employees and interested parties.
One hopes the final cost will be recovered from the IT company concerned.
I hope we can expect a " full and frank explanation of the circumstances" from the IT company itself.

Report this post »

Still concerned and angry cc employee, Worcester says...
12:18pm Sat 24 Feb 07

Amanda- it would be obvious merely by reading the contents of the relevant article either in the Worcester News,on this webpage and possibly in the national press, once this story reaches their attention, WITHOUT the need for employees such as myself to post follow-up comments.
I received my letter this morning. Assuming the other 18,999 affected individuals received their "unfortunate tidings", I estimate the cost to the CC is already £5,700+ presumably the extra cost with the additional postage costs for other affected employees and interested parties.
One hopes the final cost will be recovered from the IT company concerned.
I hope we can expect a " full and frank explanation of the circumstances" from the IT company itself.

Report this post »

Pete, London says...
4:24pm Sat 24 Feb 07

You should see what's happening on EBay at the moment. They've been hacked by this Romanian called "Vladuz".

Report this post »

Pete, London says...
4:24pm Sat 24 Feb 07

You should see what's happening on EBay at the moment. They've been hacked by this Romanian called "Vladuz".

Report this post »

Paul, Pershore says...
5:09pm Sat 24 Feb 07

I just hope the fine doesn't fall on the Council Tax Payers.

Report this post »

Paul, Pershore says...
5:09pm Sat 24 Feb 07

I just hope the fine doesn't fall on the Council Tax Payers.

Report this post »

Linda, Worcester says...
8:15pm Sat 24 Feb 07

I am astounded that the County Council has allowed this personal data to be taken off site. What happened to duty of care? Having received my letter this morning, I have had to spend the morning sorting out my bank account - not how I expected to spend my weekend! But what happens about identity fraud -someone now has my NI number and it could be being used for fraud anywhere? I am really worried.

Report this post »

Linda, Worcester says...
8:15pm Sat 24 Feb 07

I am astounded that the County Council has allowed this personal data to be taken off site. What happened to duty of care? Having received my letter this morning, I have had to spend the morning sorting out my bank account - not how I expected to spend my weekend! But what happens about identity fraud -someone now has my NI number and it could be being used for fraud anywhere? I am really worried.

Report this post »

Christine Swan, Worcester says...
8:37pm Sat 24 Feb 07

This is an appalling breach of Data Protection. In 2007, NOBODY should be carrying such details around in a laptop. The laptop is merely an access device to a secure server. There should be virtually nothing stored on it ( of any "value"). Password protected means nothing, encryption used is probably standard and therefore, breakable. A portable device should never be used as a secure storage device. IT specialist company? They should be the ones held accountable. Am I a member of one of the potentially affected families? YES! Sadly this was a disaster waiting to happen.

Report this post »

Christine Swan, Worcester says...
8:37pm Sat 24 Feb 07

This is an appalling breach of Data Protection. In 2007, NOBODY should be carrying such details around in a laptop. The laptop is merely an access device to a secure server. There should be virtually nothing stored on it ( of any "value"). Password protected means nothing, encryption used is probably standard and therefore, breakable. A portable device should never be used as a secure storage device. IT specialist company? They should be the ones held accountable. Am I a member of one of the potentially affected families? YES! Sadly this was a disaster waiting to happen.

Report this post »

James, N. Yorks says...
11:53pm Sat 24 Feb 07

For FREE proactive ID Theft protection. Just type infot Google - The simple way to foil identity theft. OR check out Radio 4's Moneybox, 10 Feb 2007 - Keeping Your Identity Safe. Scroll down the page to listen again.


Report this post »

James, N. Yorks says...
11:53pm Sat 24 Feb 07

For FREE proactive ID Theft protection. Just type infot Google - The simple way to foil identity theft. OR check out Radio 4's Moneybox, 10 Feb 2007 - Keeping Your Identity Safe. Scroll down the page to listen again.


Report this post »

Keith, worcester says...
5:19pm Sun 25 Feb 07

It is another Nationwide Building Society Lap Top Fiasco and we will suffer the consequences how will pay the Billbold

Report this post »

Keith, worcester says...
5:19pm Sun 25 Feb 07

It is another Nationwide Building Society Lap Top Fiasco and we will suffer the consequences how will pay the Billbold

Report this post »

Rob Ber, here 'n' there says...
8:01pm Sun 25 Feb 07

Anyone want to buy a laptop?

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Rob Ber, here 'n' there says...
8:01pm Sun 25 Feb 07

Anyone want to buy a laptop?

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Ann Burton, Bewdley says...
8:13pm Sun 25 Feb 07

Not much to add to what has already been said but what on earth was all this confidential info doing on an individual's lap top who did not even work for the council? It is nothing other than a fiasco and someone's head at the top of the tree needs to roll and quick!!!! No doubt some suit on high will wriggle out of his/her responsibilities and get promoted!!!!!

Report this post »

Ann Burton, Bewdley says...
8:13pm Sun 25 Feb 07

Not much to add to what has already been said but what on earth was all this confidential info doing on an individual's lap top who did not even work for the council? It is nothing other than a fiasco and someone's head at the top of the tree needs to roll and quick!!!! No doubt some suit on high will wriggle out of his/her responsibilities and get promoted!!!!!

Report this post »

Jimmy, Worcestershire says...
10:08am Mon 26 Feb 07

FFS! Lets make **** sure the criminal is fully aware of what he has and what he could do with it by advertising it to the world! Unbelievable.

Report this post »

Jimmy, Worcestershire says...
10:08am Mon 26 Feb 07

FFS! Lets make **** sure the criminal is fully aware of what he has and what he could do with it by advertising it to the world! Unbelievable.

Report this post »

richard, worcester says...
10:44am Mon 26 Feb 07

As a member of wcc i am amazed they let it out what was on the laptop...i mean it was a random theft and they would likely never know what was on the machine till it started getting posted on new sites.

Report this post »

richard, worcester says...
10:44am Mon 26 Feb 07

As a member of wcc i am amazed they let it out what was on the laptop...i mean it was a random theft and they would likely never know what was on the machine till it started getting posted on new sites.

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
10:51am Mon 26 Feb 07

aaaaaargh.. rage infected monkeys!!!

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
10:51am Mon 26 Feb 07

aaaaaargh.. rage infected monkeys!!!

Report this post »

Peachey, The test lab says...
10:54am Mon 26 Feb 07

Oooook ooook oook

Report this post »

Peachey, The test lab says...
10:54am Mon 26 Feb 07

Oooook ooook oook

Report this post »

Derek, Worcester says...
12:18pm Mon 26 Feb 07

I'm disgusted with the above comments! Grow up!

Report this post »

Derek, Worcester says...
12:18pm Mon 26 Feb 07

I'm disgusted with the above comments! Grow up!

Report this post »

rage infected monkeys, worcester says...
12:32pm Mon 26 Feb 07

im disgusted by your lack of humour.
begun the flame war has.

the funny thing is ,an email went around the council about 2 days before this happened saying we must not allow any data to be kept on laptops/external media.

Then oops, SERCO lose a laptop with lots of data on it.


kinda ironic really

Report this post »

rage infected monkeys, worcester says...
12:32pm Mon 26 Feb 07

im disgusted by your lack of humour.
begun the flame war has.

the funny thing is ,an email went around the council about 2 days before this happened saying we must not allow any data to be kept on laptops/external media.

Then oops, SERCO lose a laptop with lots of data on it.


kinda ironic really

Report this post »

Bob, says...
12:34pm Mon 26 Feb 07

I agree with Jummy and Richard above - yet more irresponsible journalism by the Worcester News.

Report this post »

Bob, says...
12:34pm Mon 26 Feb 07

I agree with Jummy and Richard above - yet more irresponsible journalism by the Worcester News.

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
12:49pm Mon 26 Feb 07

sorry about the monkey thing.. thought people needed to lighten up a bit.

i work at the council as well and 'rage infected monkey' has a point.. i also got that message and i just hope all the info in question was encrypted - though even if it wasnt i'm guessing the perp in question will need some form of password to get into the related program..

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
12:49pm Mon 26 Feb 07

sorry about the monkey thing.. thought people needed to lighten up a bit.

i work at the council as well and 'rage infected monkey' has a point.. i also got that message and i just hope all the info in question was encrypted - though even if it wasnt i'm guessing the perp in question will need some form of password to get into the related program..

Report this post »

Jimmy, Worcestershire says...
12:59pm Mon 26 Feb 07

If only it stopped at the Worcester News and was just about this topic.

Report this post »

Jimmy, Worcestershire says...
12:59pm Mon 26 Feb 07

If only it stopped at the Worcester News and was just about this topic.

Report this post »

rage infected monkey, worcester says...
1:02pm Mon 26 Feb 07

LOLZ??111???!!!?

Report this post »

rage infected monkey, worcester says...
1:02pm Mon 26 Feb 07

LOLZ??111???!!!?

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Still concerned and angry cc employee, WORCESTER says...
2:01pm Mon 26 Feb 07

Midlands Today carried the story in their lunchtime edition and BBC Hereford and Worcester too.Interestingly the radio station reports the robbery as having been carried out two weeks ago, whilst the letter which arrived through my letter box says "several days ago" (from when letter dated 23/02). Does anyone know WHEN the robbery took place? If it was two weeks ago, then why on earth has it taken this long for
the CC to confirm the
incident and its implications for thousands of its employees?

Report this post »

Still concerned and angry cc employee, WORCESTER says...
2:01pm Mon 26 Feb 07

Midlands Today carried the story in their lunchtime edition and BBC Hereford and Worcester too.Interestingly the radio station reports the robbery as having been carried out two weeks ago, whilst the letter which arrived through my letter box says "several days ago" (from when letter dated 23/02). Does anyone know WHEN the robbery took place? If it was two weeks ago, then why on earth has it taken this long for
the CC to confirm the
incident and its implications for thousands of its employees?

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
2:14pm Mon 26 Feb 07

the first i heard about this was when i was sent a link to this webpage.. i'll ask my contacts at work to see if i can get a date..

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
2:14pm Mon 26 Feb 07

the first i heard about this was when i was sent a link to this webpage.. i'll ask my contacts at work to see if i can get a date..

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
2:15pm Mon 26 Feb 07

that is to say, the date of the theft.. not a 'date' date..

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
2:15pm Mon 26 Feb 07

that is to say, the date of the theft.. not a 'date' date..

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
2:18pm Mon 26 Feb 07

lol@frd..
almost and funny as our team minutes:
(fred needs hot sister)

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
2:18pm Mon 26 Feb 07

lol@frd..
almost and funny as our team minutes:
(fred needs hot sister)

Report this post »

real frd, worcester says...
2:23pm Mon 26 Feb 07

funny rich.. hah ha.. learn some grammar before you try to pretend to be me..

lol@frd what does that even mean? hot sister???

meanwhile i am still trying to find out when the laptop went missing - keep you posted

and rich - stop it

Report this post »

real frd, worcester says...
2:23pm Mon 26 Feb 07

funny rich.. hah ha.. learn some grammar before you try to pretend to be me..

lol@frd what does that even mean? hot sister???

meanwhile i am still trying to find out when the laptop went missing - keep you posted

and rich - stop it

Report this post »

rage infected monkey, worcester says...
2:24pm Mon 26 Feb 07

sadly i deleted that email about the serco laptop but it was a week or 2 ago.

urg i mean about that team meeting where you were driving really hard to get with someone's hot sister.

Report this post »

rage infected monkey, worcester says...
2:24pm Mon 26 Feb 07

sadly i deleted that email about the serco laptop but it was a week or 2 ago.

urg i mean about that team meeting where you were driving really hard to get with someone's hot sister.

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
2:27pm Mon 26 Feb 07

not sure when it happened, but i believe it was reported on friday, and also i hear it was in london

Report this post »

frd, worcester says...
2:27pm Mon 26 Feb 07

not sure when it happened, but i believe it was reported on friday, and also i hear it was in london

Report this post »

Alan W, says...
3:21pm Mon 26 Feb 07

I wonder it the council realises that they may be held liable for any losses incurred if it can be provenn they were as a result of this theft.

Report this post »

Alan W, says...
3:21pm Mon 26 Feb 07

I wonder it the council realises that they may be held liable for any losses incurred if it can be provenn they were as a result of this theft.

Report this post »

gurdeep sahota, London says...
5:33pm Mon 26 Feb 07

Well...unfortunately, this is a common stroy. I would suggest to ensure no further incidents happen again, to look up Pointsec Mobile Technologies. - Laptops are stolen all the time, if they are secure, all the worry is taken away.

Report this post »

gurdeep sahota, London says...
5:33pm Mon 26 Feb 07

Well...unfortunately, this is a common stroy. I would suggest to ensure no further incidents happen again, to look up Pointsec Mobile Technologies. - Laptops are stolen all the time, if they are secure, all the worry is taken away.

Report this post »

Derek, Worcester says...
6:04pm Mon 26 Feb 07

rage infected monkeys wrote:
im disgusted by your lack of humour. begun the flame war has. the funny thing is ,an email went around the council about 2 days before this happened saying we must not allow any data to be kept on laptops/external media. Then oops, SERCO lose a laptop with lots of data on it. kinda ironic really
Kinda ironic that Serco's level of stupidity can only be exceeded by yours??? Is that what you mean??

You would do well to keep your big mouth shut and get back to answering the phone because THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE PAID TO DO!!!

Report this post »

Derek, Worcester says...
6:04pm Mon 26 Feb 07

rage infected monkeys wrote:
im disgusted by your lack of humour. begun the flame war has. the funny thing is ,an email went around the council about 2 days before this happened saying we must not allow any data to be kept on laptops/external media. Then oops, SERCO lose a laptop with lots of data on it. kinda ironic really
Kinda ironic that Serco's level of stupidity can only be exceeded by yours??? Is that what you mean??

You would do well to keep your big mouth shut and get back to answering the phone because THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE PAID TO DO!!!

Report this post »

annoyed, Worcester says...
8:04pm Mon 26 Feb 07

x

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annoyed, Worcester says...
8:04pm Mon 26 Feb 07

x

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