Cordant Health Solutions
Informational Website
This website is maintained by IDX on behalf of Cordant Health Solutions for the purpose of providing you with valuable services and information regarding the data incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened?
- What happened?
Cordant recently experienced a cyber-incident which may have affected the personal information of certain individuals. In response to the incident, Cordant hired a third-party cybersecurity forensics firm to closely examine what occurred.
If you received a notification letter from Cordant about this incident, the letter will list exactly which elements of your personal information may have been exposed as a result of this incident. Cordant regrets any concern or inconvenience this notice may cause.
- Exactly what kind of “cyber-incident” occurred?
The incident that occurred is what is known as a “business email compromise.” During a business email compromise, cyber-criminals gain unauthorized access to an email account. Unfortunately, these types of incidents are becoming increasingly common, and even organizations with some of the most sophisticated IT infrastructure available are affected. That being said, we are taking steps to strengthen our security posture to prevent a similar event from occurring again in the future.
- When did it happen?
While Cordant first became aware of the incident on February 21, 2022, a forensic investigation determined that the incident occurred between February 18, 2022 and February 21, 2022.
- Why has it taken so long to be notified? Are patients being notified? Why haven’t patients been notified yet?
Cordant has worked diligently to gather as much information as possible about what happened. Cordant felt it necessary to understand the situation as thoroughly and accurately as possible before sharing our knowledge of the incident with our patients. We understand that the process of gathering accurate information about this incident took time, and we appreciate your patience in our process of determining what occurred.
- Who viewed/acquired/took, etc. my personal and/or medical information?
At this time, Cordant does not know the identity of the individual responsible for the incident or whether that person viewed or acquired your personal and/or medical information.
- Has anyone experienced fraud or theft as a result of this incident?
At this time, Cordant is not aware of anyone experiencing any fraud or theft as a result of this incident. Further, Cordant does not have evidence that any personal information has been or will be misused or disclosed as a result of this incident.
- What personal information of mine was exposed/acquired?
We encourage you to review the “What Information Was Involved” section of notice letter you received which will contain this information. If you have not received a letter, then the following information was potentially compromised: your name, date of birth, medical information and health insurance information. Please note that Cordant does not have evidence that any personal information has been or will be misused or disclosed as a result of this incident.
- What has Cordant done about this? How is Cordant preventing this from happening again?
Please be assured that Cordant takes the protection and proper use of your information seriously, and Cordant apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. Unfortunately, these types of incidents are becoming increasingly common, and even organizations with some of the most sophisticated IT infrastructure available are affected. That being said, we are will be providing additional training to our employees and have hired a third-party IT forensics firm to review this incident, and we plan to take their advice on how to prevent a similar event from occurring again in the future.
- Were there others affected by this incident, or am I the only one?
You are not the only one potentially impacted by this incident. To the extent Cordant maintained their address, Cordant notified all individuals whose personally identifiable information was potentially compromised as a result of this incident. Additional names, dates of birth, medical information and health insurance information for certain individuals were potentially compromised however, Cordant was unable to locate their address.
- Why does Cordant have my personal information?
Cordant maintains personal information of current and former patients and employees. Cordant takes its duty to safeguard the personal information within its control seriously and is doing everything it can to prevent a similar event from occurring again in the future.
- Who is IDX?
IDX is a third-party organization working to assist Cordant through the incident by hosting a call-center as well as making sure potentially affected individuals receive notice of the incident.
Minor Support Information
- Why can’t I pull my child’s credit report?
Most minors, under the age of 18, do not have a credit history established and are under the age to secure credit, therefore there is no credit report to pull.
- How can I check to see if someone has created a credit file using my child’s information?
TransUnion offers a secure online form that you can use to submit your child’s information to see if a credit file exists. Click here to go directly to the secure online form.
Additional information on child ID theft can also be found here.
Decedent Support Information
- Is it possible to steal a deceased person’s identity?
Unfortunately, it is possible to steal the identity of someone who is deceased. Identity thieves obtain information about deceased individuals in various ways.
- How can someone steal a deceased person’s identity?
They may watch the obituaries, steal death certificates, or even get the information from websites that offer the Social Security Death Index file (which is actually intended for genealogy research).
- Does the Social Security Administration notify the credit bureaus and other financial institutions when someone is deceased?
Yes, but please be aware that it takes time for the Social Security Administration to conduct this notification, so financial institutions and the credit bureaus are not immediately made aware that a customer is deceased.
- Should I notify the credit bureaus when a dependent family member or spouse passes away?
Yes, you should immediately notify each credit bureau (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) in writing that the person is deceased and ask that a deceased alert be placed on their credit report.
- How do I place a deceased alert on the credit file?
You will want to notify each credit bureau (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) in writing the following message:
“Deceased. Do not issue credit. If an application is made for credit, notify the following person(s) immediately: (list the next surviving relative, executor/trustee of the estate and/or local law enforcement agency- noting the relationship).”
Mail all correspondence via certified mail, return receipt requested. Be sure to keep photocopies of all correspondence, including letters that you send. Finally, you should also request a copy of the credit report.
Equifax
PO Box 740260
Atlanta, GA 30374Experian
PO Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
(888)397-3742TransUnion
PO Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022- What documents will I need to send to the credit bureaus alerting them that the person is deceased?
You will need to include:
- A copy of the death certificate
- Name and SSN of deceased
- Last known address
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- Should I notify other financial institutions regarding the death?
Yes, immediately notify relevant credit card companies, banks, stock brokers, loan/lien holders, and mortgage companies of the death. The executor or surviving spouse will need to discuss all outstanding debts and how they will be dealt with. You will need to transfer the account to another person or close the account. If you close the account, ask them to list it as: “Closed. Account holder is deceased.” You may need to provide a copy of the death certificate to creditors as well as the credit bureaus. You should also notify utilities, phone companies, cell phone companies, etc, that you are terminating the account because the account holder is deceased.
- What happens if I do not notify the credit bureaus that the person is deceased?
Without a specific communication, the credit bureaus may not be aware of the death. An active credit file may stay open for up to 10 years without activity. During this time, an identity thief may use the decedent’s Social Security number to open up new lines of credit or apply for loans.
- What steps should be taken if I (surviving spouse or estate executor) suspect that someone is fraudulently using the information of a deceased person?
There are several steps that should be taken:
- You should request a copy of the decedent’s credit reports and place a “deceased alert” on the credit files
- You should also notify the police in the decedent’s jurisdiction and provide any evidence you have of the fraud (collection notice, bills, credit report)
- Notify any creditor, collection agency, credit issuer, utility company that the person is deceased and date of death. Be sure to include a copy of the death certificate. Request an immediate investigation and that they contact you with the results of the investigation. Insist on “Letters of Clearance,” which you should keep with the other estate papers.
- What should be done about joint accounts?
If there is a surviving spouse or other joint account holders, make sure to notify the company that the deceased’s name needs to be removed from the account. They may require a copy of the death certificate to do this, as well as permission from the survivor, or other authorized account holders.
- Is it possible to order a credit report for a deceased person?
If the credit bureaus have been notified of the deceased person’s death, it is not possible to order their credit report. The easiest way to determine this is to try to place a fraud alert for the deceased person. If the fraud alert is placed, then the bureaus have NOT been notified of the person’s death and ordering a report is possible. If you are informed that the fraud alert cannot be placed because the person is deceased, then you know that the bureaus have updated their records and that you will not be able to order a credit report.
Additional Resources
Fraud Alerts
On request, any of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies can place a free fraud alert in your file to alert potential creditors that you may be a victim of identity theft; a fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you.
A fraud alert will help prevent someone from opening new accounts in your name. As soon as one credit reporting bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are automatically notified to place fraud alerts as well. All three bureaus will mail you a confirmation letter and you will be able to order complimentary credit reports for your review.
The easiest way to place an alert is by visiting www.transunion.com or https://fraud.transunion.com/fa/fraudAlert.
You will answer some questions to confirm your identity, and then a 90-day fraud alert will be added to your credit file. TransUnion will give you access to view your report online. You should examine it carefully for accuracy. TransUnion will also share this information with Equifax and Experian who will both mail you confirmation letters containing a number to call to order complimentary copies of your credit reports for review.
To contact one of the credit reporting bureaus, please see below:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
PO Box 740260
Atlanta, GA 30374Experian: 1-888-397-3742
PO Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
PO Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016It is only necessary to contact one of these bureaus and use one of these methods.
You will not be charged for this service. Please note placing a fraud alert may delay your ability to open new lines of credit quickly.
Annual Credit Report
Whether or not you choose to enroll in the IDX identity protection program, you can order a copy of your credit report, for free, once a year from each credit reporting bureau. You can obtain a free credit report by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
Review Your Credit Report
When you receive any credit report, you should review it carefully. Look for accounts you did not open. Look for inquiries from creditors that you did not initiate. Look for personal information, such as home address, employment or Social Security numbers, that are not accurate. If you see anything you do not understand, call the credit reporting bureau at the telephone number on the report.
If your credit report indicates fraud or identity theft, call your local police or sheriff’s office and file a report of identity theft. Get a copy of the police report. You may need to give copies of the police report to creditors to clear up your records. If you suspect that you may be a victim of identity theft and you have enrolled in the IDX identity protection program, you should contact them immediately. You will be able to speak with a knowledgeable advocate about your situation and, if needed, they will open a case to resolve the identity theft on your behalf.
For More information
Should you wish to learn more about identity theft and how to protect yourself, you may contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC website, www.consumer.ftc.gov, also offers additional information on identity theft that you may find helpful.
Security Freezes
The security freeze (or credit freeze) is an option best reserved for people who have experienced extreme identity theft. Because the freeze essentially locks down your credit, it is not a good option for people who are simply seeking extra protection for their credit. We feel that credit monitoring, fraud alerts, and victim restoration services are more than sufficient options for defense against identity theft.
A security freeze will not prevent you from enrolling in our services. You can certainly sign up with us and do not need to lift the freeze to do so. The reason for this is because we do not request your Social Security number to enroll—only name, address, phone, and email. None of these items would necessitate a credit inquiry. However, a security freeze will affect your ability to activate the monitoring portion of your membership. To activate the monitoring portion you will need to temporarily lift your security freeze.
To learn more about security freezes and relevant state laws, contact your State Attorney General’s office or visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website for credit freeze information.
Please note that you must have an established credit file and credit history to place a fraud alert, a credit freeze or utilize www.annualcreditreport.com.