Heads Up, Tar Heel State: The DMV May Have Accidentally Leaked Your Personal Info

By: Bridget Clerkin April 6, 2017
North Carolina may have accidentally exposed Social Security numbers and other personal data for 24,000 residents.
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As many as 24,000 North Carolina residents may have had their personal information improperly disposed of by the state Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), leaving the customers potentially susceptible to identity theft, the state agency warned.

The accidental misstep, which occurred earlier this week, involved the forms and records collected by the Raleigh DMV office between September 1, 2016 and March 7, 2017, the Division reported.

While no evidence of stolen identities or information has so far surfaced, the DMV urges those who could potentially be affected to closely watch on their credit reports as a precaution.

Information at stake includes names, addresses, birthdates, and Social Security numbers, among other personal indicators.

Information at stake includes names, addresses, birthdates, and Social Security numbers, among other personal indicators.

The incident occurred when boxes of the forms and records were accidentally thrown away with the garbage, instead of first being shredded, as is the DMV’s typical custom. A faulty shredder threw off the usual process, leading to the boxes’ accidental disposal, the state agency said.

The Division is sending letters to those potentially affected by the issue this week, informing them of additional safeguards they may take. The DMV has also reported the incident to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, replaced the broken shredder, and will take measures to discipline the Raleigh office manager as well as train the staff on proper information disposal.

Further questions and concerns can be addressed directly to the DMV at (866) 294-6750.

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