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Printer's Error Raises ID Theft Risk for Chicago Retirees

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

November 27, 2006

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A printing contractor employed by Chicago's public schools accidentally sent out a list of 1,740 retired employees' information as part of a mass mailing of health insurance information this past weekend.

The information includes names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, raising fears that the mistake could lead to identity theft.

All Printing & Graphics, of Broadview, Ill., mailed a 125-page spreadsheet containing labels with the information to the employees, mistaking them for health care providers.

The company said it did not know how many former employees received packets containing the list.

General manager Ralph Fowlkes apologized for the mishap, calling it "human error."

Fowlkes' apology wasn't enough for many of the retirees, who were angry that the mishap endangered their identities.

Retired administrator Ida Cheeks told the Chicago Tribune that she was incensed at the cavalier treatment of the package and of their personal information.

"All you need is a Social Security number and you can find out anything you want to about my personal business," Cheeks said.

Although printing mistakes haven't been as common as data breaches or laptop disappearances, this is not the first time a printer's error has delivered personal data to unintended recipients.

In February 2006, the Boston Globe accidentally exposed the credit card data of 240,000 subscribers when it used packing slips recycled from billing data sheets.

A group of scammers calling themselves the "National Verification Office" tried to capitalize on the mishap by calling affected subscribers and asking for their credit card information to "verify" if they were endangered or not.

In September 2006, technology contractor Accenture accidentally sent out information on 1,200 employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to other employees. The data included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and salary information, and was entrusted to Accenture as part of its contract with TSA.

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