Residents of Guttenberg’s subsidized public housing projects are afraid their personal information could be misused now that the Guttenberg Housing Authority sent them letters this month saying a computer security breach allowed “an unauthorized individual” access to their personal files, including Social Security and credit card data.
The letters were not specific, and GHA officials declined to comment for this article. Residents also said that their questions have gone unanswered.
The Hudson Reporter was notified by a resident of the GHA, who preferred to speak anonymously, of a letter dated July 8 but received by residents only last weekend. It was sent from a post office box in Bedminster, N.J. with a return address of “GHA Inquiries.”
GHA announces security leak
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According to the Federal Trade Commission’s website, identity theft can occur when individuals use “personal identifying information,” like names, Social Security numbers, or credit card numbers, to commit fraud or other crimes. This can include opening credit cards, telephone accounts, or making large purchases, even including houses and cars.
Phone calls to GHA Board Attorney Terrence Corriston were not returned last week. A faxed request for an official comment sent to GHA Executive Director Barbara Criscione was not answered, and GHA Commissioners President Joanne Martin refused to comment on the issue.
It is unknown how many residents received the letter.
The letter says the GHA is unaware whether the information was used in a “fraudulent or otherwise improper manner” and that is undertaking an investigation into the matter and will provide further information “should it become necessary.”
The GHA letter claimed that they had notified federal and state officials of the matter.
“HUD was made aware of this situation, but it is HUD’s policy to refrain from commenting on matters in which litigation is pending or threatened to avoid prejudicing of the parties,” said a spokesperson for Housing and Urban Development.
GHA inquiry line
The letter, as well as a sign posted on several doors of the affordable housing building at 6900 Broadway, encouraged residents and housing applicants to contact the “GHA Inquiries line” at 1(877) 402-0972 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Monday to Friday.
The phone number rings three times before an answering machine responds. A message states, “All representatives are busy assisting other callers. Please leave your name and number and a brief message and a representative will get back to you.”
The message does not state which agency is conducting the inquiry.
No answers for residents
“I went downstairs [to the GHA office and] they are not going to tell you anything from the office,” said resident Ernie Regensburg, who received the letter this past weekend. “I called [the number in the letter] twice and so far nobody is calling me back.”
A resident who preferred to speak without attribution said that she called the number and left a message. She received a phone call back. She said she was told that she should report the problem to credit card companies and her bank. She put credit guards on her cards and plans to watch her bank account, but still wants more information on what happened.
Identity theft info
The woman also said that when she visited the GHA office on Monday, at least 25 people were there trying to get information. Many were upset that the breach occurred in December 2009 and they were just learning of it now. Others didn’t understand the letter.
“A lot of people received this letter,” said the resident. “I explained to the person that was in the main office …that because some people are [elderly] they don’t understand what identity theft means, they don’t understand what they are doing…you tell me you ‘don’t know anything.’ How can you send a letter like this?”
At the bottom of the letter, the GHA alerts those seeking more information on identity theft to visit www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/idtheft.htm, the New Jersey Consumer Affair’s website, along with the Federal Trade Commission’s, at www.ftc.gov/idtheft. However, she said many residents may not have access to the internet.
She believes other people aren’t complaining because they fear losing their public housing.
Resident Rosa Garcia was scared when she received the letter. She went to the GHA office to try and find out more information, but was told to call the number in the letter.
“They should be doing a meeting for everybody, explaining what is going on,” said Garcia.
Garcia’s friend, who applied for housing seven months ago, also received a letter.
“She is a little bit scared because it is a problem for her too,” said Garcia. “She has to go to the bank too. You have to do something.”
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.