UM reacts to possible breach of student Social Security numbers

[security curmudgeon <jericho () attrition org>]

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2010/01/21/um-responds-visible-social-security-numbers-tax-form-envelope-windows/

UM reacts to possible breach of student Social Security numbers
Thursday, January 21, 2010 | 12:01 a.m. CST
BY Katy Bergen

COLUMBIA . About 100 people responded to an e-mail sent Tuesday afternoon 
notifying students that their Social Security numbers may have been 
visible in the envelope window of a tax form sent by the University of 
Missouri System, said Nikki Krawitz, UM vice president of finance and 
administration.

More than 75,000 Form 1098-Ts were mailed at the end of last week. The 
four-campus system has no way of accessing how many envelopes displayed 
the numbers. Form 1098-T is an Internal Revenue Service form that reports 
tuition billed and paid..People are concerned as everyone would expect 
them to be,. Krawitz said. .They are expressing their frustration and 
asking for guidance..

Campus Mail Services committed the folding errors but Krawitz said the 
system is reviewing the entire process. She said concerned students and 
parents should look into credit monitoring services, such as Experian, 
that offers a reduced monthly rate of $3.46 to faculty, staff, retirees 
and students in the system. The UM System also has consistently encouraged 
students and employees to take advantage of a free service at 
www.annualcreditreport.com, Krawitz said.

Columbia resident Rex Cone received Form 1098-T in the mail Friday for 
taking a class fall semester. He said his Social Security number was 
printed above his name and could be seen through the envelope window.

[..]
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