Equifax tax forms expose worker Social Security numbers

[kirniki <kirniki () gmail com>]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10452004-245.html

An unknown number of current and former employees of credit reporting
firm Equifax received W-2 forms in the mail with their Social Security
numbers visible through a window on the envelope, CNET has learned.

Equifax became aware of the problem on January 19 and informed
employees in a letter dated January 27, according to a copy of the
letter obtained by CNET.

Specifically, some of the tax forms mailed by Equifax's payroll vendor
through the U.S. Postal Service had the Social Security number in a
Control Number field, which was partially or fully viewable through
the return address window, Coretha Rushing, chief human resources
officer at Equifax, wrote in the letter. "Control Numbers were
intended to be a unique number, not a SSN," she said.
[..]
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