USDA Offers Free Credit Monitoring to Farm Services Agency and Rural Development Funding Recipients Q & A

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A. What Happened and How Does this Affect Me?
B. What Should I Do?
C. Receiving a Letter and Credit Monitoring
D. What is USDA Doing about the Situation?

Topic A - WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?

A1. What Happened?

On April 13, 2007 USDA was notified that a recipient of USDA funding was able to ascertain private identifying information while viewing a government-wide website. All of the private identifying information was embedded in a larger number and therefore not immediately identifiable. The same day, all identification numbers associated with USDA funding were removed from the website.

USDA is in the process of notifying by letter all persons whose private identification information has been posted on the website and inviting them to sign up for free credit monitoring.

Initially, USDA estimated that as many as 150,000 individuals might be affected. That number included all individuals whose identification number could possibly contain private information. On Friday, April 20, 2007 USDA narrowed the number of individuals who might be affected to 63,000. USDA staff continued analysis of the identification numbers throughout the weekend and determined that approximately 38,700 actually contain private information. This completes the review of records posted on the government-wide website in question.

The 38,700 people affected were awarded funds through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) or USDA Rural Development (RD). The FSA programs involve approximately 35,000 of the individuals and are limited to: Seed Loans, Emergency Loans, Farm Ownership Loans, Apple Loans, Soil and Water Loans, and Horse Breeder Loans.

The Rural Development programs involve approximately 3,700 individuals and are limited to: Business and Industry Loans, Community Facilities Loans and Grants, Direct Housing Natural Disaster Loans and Grants, Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants, Rural Rental Housing Loans, and Rural Rental Assistance Payments.

A2. What information was included?

All of the private identifying information posted on the web site was embedded in a larger number and therefore not immediately identifiable. The same day, all identification numbers associated with USDA funding were removed from the website.

A3. How do I know if my information was included?

USDA has been working to identify the individuals whose information has been posted on the website. USDA believes that the website in question contained private identification information relating to individuals who receive USDA funding from the Farm Services Agency and USDA Rural Development. USDA is in the process of notifying, via mail, the approximately 38,700 people whose information might have been exposed and offering them free credit monitoring for one year.

Topic B - WHAT SHOULD I DO?

B1. What should I do to protect myself? Do I have to close my bank account or cancel my credit cards?

At this point there is no evidence that any missing data has been used illegally. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking all persons who may have been affected to be extra vigilant and to carefully monitor bank statements, credit card statements, and any statements relating to recent financial transactions, and to immediately report any suspicious or unusual activity. For tips on how to guard against misuse of personal information, visit the Federal Trade Commission website at http://www.ftc.gov/.

You do not have to close your bank account or cancel your credit cards. You should, however, take steps to protect yourself against identity theft. One way to monitor your financial accounts is to review your credit report. By law you are entitled to one free credit report each year. Request a free credit report from one of the three major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - at http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.

The Department of Agriculture is offering one year of free credit monitoring to affected Farm Services Agency and Rural Development funding recipients, as described in the USDA press release at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/04/0105.xml. USDA funding recipients who wish to take advantage of the credit monitoring offer will be provided with instructions for how to register. Any USDA funding recipient with additional questions may call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636). The call center operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EDT), Monday-Friday.

B2. What is identity theft?

Identity theft occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes.

B3. I haven't noticed any suspicious activity in my financial statements, but what can I do to protect myself and prevent being victimized by credit card fraud or identity theft?

The Department of Agriculture strongly recommends that individuals closely monitor their financial statements and call FTC's Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-438-4338 or visit them online at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

B4. Should I reach out to my financial institutions or will the Department of Agriculture do this for me?

The Department of Agriculture does not believe that it is necessary to contact financial institutions or cancel credit cards and bank accounts, unless you detect suspicious activity.

B5. What should I do if I detect a problem with any of my accounts?

The Federal Trade Commission recommends the following four steps if you detect suspicious activity:

Step 1 – Contact the fraud department of one of the three major credit bureaus:

Step 2 – Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

Step 3 – File a police report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Step 4 – File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by using the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline: