JobLink, which is a database managed by Job Link Alliance, maintains online databases that connects employers with job seekers.  JobLink is used by the state governments of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Oklahoma and Vermont. It has recently come to light that the database for all of the states using JobLink were hacked sometime prior to March 16th.  The total number of people affected is undetermined at this time, but potentially huge.  In Delaware alone personal information from more than 200,000 accounts were stolen. Included in the information stolen in this data breach were names, Social Security numbers and birth dates which could be readily used for purposes of identity theft.

TIPS

If you used JobLink in any of the affected states, you should immediately freeze your credit with each of the three credit reporting agencies to help prevent anyone who may have access to your Social Security number from obtaining credit in your name.  You can find out how to put a credit freeze on your credit report by putting in the key words “credit freeze” in the Search the Website section of Scamicide at the right hand corner of this page.

You should also carefully monitor all of your credit cards and other accounts regularly for any indications of identity theft.