Turke & Strauss LLP, a leading data breach law firm, is investigating Bluefield University regarding its recent data breach. The Bluefield University data breach involved sensitive personal identifiable information and protected health information belonging to over 23,000 individuals.
ABOUT BLUEFIELD UNIVERSITY:
Bluefield University is a private Baptist university in Bluefield, Virginia. As a higher education institution, Bluefield University offers over 40 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral academic programs. Additionally, Bluefield University has 18 NAIA Division 1 athletic teams which compete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference and the Mid-South Conference. Established in 1922 by the Baptist General Association of Virginia, Bluefield University enrolls around 1,200 students and employs 60 full-time faculty members.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On May 1, 2023, Bluefield University discovered that it had experienced a data breach in which sensitive personal identifiable information and protected health information in its systems may have been accessed and acquired. Through its investigation, Bluefield University determined that an unauthorized actor may have accessed and acquired this sensitive information between April 29, 2023, and May 19, 2023. On November 27, 2023, Bluefield University began notifying individuals whose information may have been impacted. The type of information potentially exposed includes:
- Name
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Phone numbers
- E-mail addresses
- Driver’s license and/or government identification card number
- Passport number
- Credit and/or debit card number
- Bank and/or financial account information
- Medical information (e.g., treatment details, prescription information, provider name)
- Health insurance information
- Education information
If you received a breach notification letter from Bluefield University:
We would like to speak with you about your rights and potential legal remedies in response to this data breach. Please fill out the form, below, or contact us at (608) 237-1775 or sam@turkestrauss.com.
If you were impacted by the Bluefield University data breach, you may consider taking the following steps to protect your personal information.
- Carefully review the breach notice and retain a copy;
- Enroll in any free credit monitoring services provided by Bluefield University;
- Change passwords and security questions for online accounts;
- Regularly review account statements for signs of fraud or unauthorized activity;
- Monitor credit reports for signs of identity theft; and
- Contact a credit bureau(s) to request a temporary fraud alert.
LINKS
[1] https://www.wvva.com/2023/05/01/ransomware-cyberattack-continues-bluefield-university/
[2] https://www.bluefield.edu/notice-of-data-breach/
[3] https://dojmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/Consumer-notification-letter-886.pdf
[4] https://apps.web.maine.gov/online/aeviewer/ME/40/4a82653a-44c9-40ec-bbeb-b0d6f03827d5.shtml