From: Main, Karen (DOL) <KMAIN@dol.wa.gov>
Date: Fri, Feb 11, 2022, 11:09 AM
During the week of Jan. 24, 2022, the Department of Licensing became aware of suspicious activity involving professional and occupational license information contained within the Professional and Business Licensing System. DOL immediately shut the system down and began its investigation with the assistance of the Washington Office of the Chief Information Officer and nationally renowned experts in the field of cyber security.
Although our investigation is continuing, we have additional information to share. DOL has determined that the suspicious activity was a breach of the Professional and Business Licensing System. Our investigation to this point has revealed that around 650,000 individuals may have been affected. These individuals include active licensees and people with, for example, expired, revoked, or suspended licenses.
In response, DOL will begin notifying all affected individuals in a variety of ways, including direct notice, notice to the Washington Attorney General and others as required by law, and notice through updated information on our website. Notification to individuals will include an offer of free credit monitoring.
Second, while the professional licensing system remains offline, we have begun processing license renewals. You can visit https://www.dol.wa.gov/intent for more information.
We will provide further updates as soon as possible.
For further information about this incident, please contact the below number.
- Phone number: (855) 568-2052
- Hours of operation: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days a week
A message of support from Reis Pearson, current ASHI Washington President
In addition to the free credit monitoring offered in the bulletin from Washington DOL, we have provided links to go online and freeze your credit report (Most Expedient) or take other actions to protect yourself. NOTE all of these efforts are free to do.
Links for support:
Are credit freezes a good idea?
A credit freeze can help prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name, but it does nothing to keep them from committing fraud with your existing accounts. That means fraudsters might make charges on a payment card in your wallet.
How do I put a freeze on all 3 credit bureaus?
How do I freeze my credit? If you want to freeze your credit, you need to do it at each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax (1-800-349-9960), TransUnion (1-888-909-8872), and Experian (1-888-397-3742). If you request a freeze, be sure to store the passwords you’ll need to thaw your credit in a safe place. May 18, 2021
Credit Freeze online option
A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, is the best way to help prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. It’s absolutely free to freeze and unfreeze your credit, and it won’t affect your credit score.
https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/identity-theft/fraud-alert-security-freeze-credit-lock/
ASHI Washington will keep an eye on this evolving story to ensure you know what we know.