Walnut Place, Notice of Data Breach

DALLAS, May 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 13, 2017, LCS-WP LLC d/b/a Walnut Place ("Walnut Place") leadership discovered that some of its systems had been infected with ransomware (a type of computer malware that encrypts files). Walnut Place's investigation has revealed that the ransomware began affecting its systems on or around January 25, 2017 and was remediated on February 2, 2017.  Walnut Place has been working diligently, with the assistance of third-party forensic investigators, to determine the full nature and scope of this incident, and to confirm the security of its systems.  Walnut Place is also taking additional actions to strengthen and enhance the security of its systems moving forward. 

Based on Walnut Place's investigation to date, there is no evidence that any sensitive data was taken from the affected systems.  The systems that were impacted by this incident contained information including names, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, dates of birth, address information, telephone numbers, medical record numbers, health insurance information, payment information (such as banking and credit card information), and clinical/diagnostic information related to Walnut Place patients and residents. The type of information potentially affected was not the same for each individual.  While there is currently no evidence of any actual or attempted misuse of information as a result of this incident, Walnut Place decided the prudent course is to provide notice given the sensitive nature of this information.

Walnut Place will be mailing notice letters to individuals whose data was present on the affected systems. Walnut Place will continue the notification process should additional individuals be determined to be potentially impacted. 

Walnut Place is providing potentially impacted individuals with access to free credit monitoring services. Walnut Place encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, and to monitor their credit reports and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity. Walnut Place is providing potentially impacted individuals with contact information for the three major credit reporting agencies, as well as providing advice on how to obtain free credit reports and how to place fraud alerts and security freezes on their credit files.  The relevant contact information is below:

Potentially impacted individuals may also find information regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes and the steps they may take to protect their information by contacting the credit bureaus, and the Federal Trade Commission.  The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. 

Walnut Place has set up a call center to answer questions from those who might be impacted by this incident.  Anyone with additional questions may contact the call center at 1-888-735-5898 (toll free), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CT.  Additional information on how potentially impacted individuals can protect themselves can also be found at Walnut Place's website www.walnutplacelcs.com.

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SOURCE Walnut Place