Eastern Wyoming College

EWC Data Security Incident Notification

Dear Student:
 
We are writing to notify you of an incident that may affect the security of your personal information. On June 21, 2021, Eastern Wyoming College discovered unauthorized activity on our system.  We are providing this notice to ensure that you are aware of the incident and so that you may take steps to monitor your identity, financial accounts and any existing credit file should you feel it is appropriate to do so.

While we have no evidence that any of your personal information was compromised or misused in any manner, we are taking appropriate precautionary measures to ensure your financial security and help alleviate concerns you may have.

 
What is Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) doing to address this situation?
Upon learning of the unauthorized activity on our system, EWC immediately launched an internal investigation into this incident.  This investigation revealed that we were victims of a ransomware attack into our computer network.  Eastern Wyoming College retained several external, nationally recognized computer forensic experts to confirm these findings and to identify the full extent of data potentially exposed as result of this incident.  While the investigation and restoration is ongoing, we have determined that files containing names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers and social security numbers of some students may have been accessed during this incident.
 
In response to the incident, we are providing you with access to Triple Bureau Credit Monitoring* services at no charge. These services provide you with alerts for twelve months from the date of enrollment when changes occur to any of one of your Experian, Equifax or TransUnion credit files.  This notification is sent to you the same day that the change or update takes place with the bureau.  These services will be provided by Cyberscout through Identity Force, a company specializing in fraud assistance and remediation services.

How do I enroll for the free services?
To enroll in Credit Monitoring* services at no charge, please log on to https://secure.identityforce.com/benefit/EWC and follow the instructions provided. When prompted please provide the following unique code to receive services: 7R8FT9BJ63. In order for you to receive the monitoring services described above, you must enroll within 90 days from the date of this letter.

 
What can I do on my own to address this situation?
To further protect against possible identity theft, fraud or other financial loss, we encourage you to remain vigilant, to review your account statement, to monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity, and to only respond to emails from a known/authenticated sender.  If you choose not to use these services, we strongly urge you to do the following:
If you choose to place a fraud alert on your own, you will need to contact one of the three major credit agencies directly at:
Experian 
(1-888-397-3742)
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX  75013
www.experian.com		 Equifax 
(1-800-525-6285)
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA  30374
www.equifax.com		 TransUnion 
(1-800-680-7289)
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA  19016
www.transunion.com

Also, should you wish to obtain a credit report and monitor it on your own:

  • Under U.S. law, you are entitled to one (1) free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus.  You can obtain your free copies by going to the following website: www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling them toll-free at 1-877-322-8228.  (Hearing impaired consumers can access their TDD service at 1-877-730-4204).
  • Upon receipt of your credit report, we recommend that you review it carefully for any suspicious activity.
  • You may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report.  At no charge, you can also have these credit bureaus place a “fraud alert” on your file that alerts creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity prior to granting credit in your name.  Note, however, that because a fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you, it could delay your ability to obtain credit while the agency verifies your identity.

You can further educate yourself regarding identity theft, security freezes, and the steps you can take to protect yourself, by contacting your state Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission.  The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsotes/idtheft/, 1877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338); TTY; 866-653-4261.  The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them, and information regarding fraud alerts and security freezes may also be obtained from the Federal Trade Commission. Instances known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and/or your state’s Attorney General.

What if I want to speak with EWC regarding this incident? 

You may still feel the need to speak with Eastern Wyoming College regarding this incident. We have established a confidential assistance line for you to utilize if you have questions or concerns regarding the incident or the contents of this letter. Please call 1-833-416-2037 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.  

We apologize for any inconvenience or concern that this may have caused you.  Please know that we are taking steps that will prevent this from happening again in the future, and that the safety and security of your personal information remains a top priority for Eastern Wyoming College.  Thank you for your patience, understanding and support of Eastern Wyoming College as we ensure your personal security.

Sincerely,

Lesley Travers, Ph.D.
President

* Services marked with an “*” require an internet connection and e-mail account and may not be available to minors under the age of 18 years of age.  Please note that when signing up for monitoring services, you may be asked to verify personal information for your own protection to confirm your identity.