Social services employee stole clients’ data to commit tax fraud

Central City Concern, which works to help the poor and homeless become self-sufficient, learned in April of the unauthorized access and disclosure of files over a three-year period.

CCC is a nonprofit agency based in Portland, Ore.

“A former CCC employee has been accused of improperly copying information from approximately 15 Central City Concern clients from its Employment Access Center (EAC) program with the intent of processing fraudulent tax returns in their names,” a special notice on the organization’s website states.

The suspect might have compromised names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, and, in some instances, health information. 

“After CCC was notified of the breach by law enforcement, they  prudently notified everyone whose records the employee would have been able to access – even though there is no evidence that more than 15 clients’ information was accessed,” PHIprivacy.net reports.