BreachExchange mailing list archives

Tax mailing has Social Security numbers visible


From: "Dissent" <Dissent () pogowasright org>
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 01:24:28 -0500 (EST)

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=547475

When Wisconsin taxpayers pull their packets of 2006 state income tax
forms out of their mailboxes, tens of thousands of them will see
something even less welcome than the annual reminder of how much money
they owe to Madison.

They'll see their Social Security numbers, printed right on the
outside of the booklets - where identity thieves might be able to see
them.

About 170,000 tax booklets were mailed with Social Security numbers on
the address labels because of a computer programming error at a
printing company hired by the state, Meredith Helgerson, spokeswoman
for the state Department of Revenue, said Friday. That's about 15% of
the 1.1 million booklets mailed out to individual taxpayers who file
their returns by mail, she said.

[...]

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