Scam of the day – August 13, 2025 – Massive Data Breach at Kidney Dialysis Company DaVita

by | Aug 12, 2025 | Scam of the day

The healthcare industry has long been a prime target for hackers and ransomware gangs due to a combination of factors including the vast amounts of valuable personal information healthcare companies hold and their increased vulnerability to attack due to so many companies including doctors, insurance companies and labs sharing data and access with each other making major health care providers as vulnerable as the third parties with the weakest security with which they share access and data.  The latest data breach was of DaVita, one of the country’s largest providers of kidney dialysis.  names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers and more of 900,000 patients of DaVita was stolen leaving these people in serious danger of identity theft.

One of the key lessons for victims of this data breach is to limit the amount of personal information you provide to any company as much as possible.  While many companies ask for your Social Security number, few actually have a need for it.  Your Social Security number in the hands of a criminal can readily lead to identity thief so you should keep it private as much as possible.  Your doctor or healthcare provider doesn’t need it.  Don’t give it to them.

TIPS

DaVita is offering identity theft insurance to victims of the data breach who enroll by November 28, 2025.  You can get more information about this by calling 833-931-7849.

Victims of this data breach should  freeze their credit if they have not already done so.  Actually, freezing your credit is actually something everyone should do.  It is free and easy to do.  In addition, it protects you from someone using your identity to obtain loans or make large purchases even if they have your Social Security number.  If you have not already done so, put a credit freeze on your credit reports at all of the major credit reporting agencies.  Here are links to each of them with instructions about how to get a credit freeze:

Everyone also should monitor their credit reports regularly for indications of identity theft.  The three major credit reporting agencies now provide free weekly access to your credit reports so you can monitor your credit reports easily on your own.  Here is the only link to use to get your free credit reports.https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action
Some scammers have websites that appear to offer “free” credit reports, but if you read the fine print, you often may find that you have signed up for unnecessary services.
With data breaches so common, it is also important to limit the amount of personal information you provide any company to no more than what is absolutely necessary. Many companies ask for your Social Security number although they have no real need for that information.  Don’t provide it whenever you can.
Finally, be wary of anyone who calls you purporting to help you in regard to the data breach who  asks for personal information in regard to this data breach as that is a favorite tactic of hackers to lure you into providing additional personal information that can lead to your becoming a victim of identity theft.  Also, as always, never click on a link or download an attachment to an email or text message unless you have absolutely confirmed that it is legitimate and don’t provide personal information in response to an email, text message or phone call unless you have absolutely confirmed that the communication was legitimate.

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