A contractor with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lost a USB stick containing the PII of 7,000 people who work on wastewater and drinking water systems.

What kind of personal information? Names and Social Security numbers.

What happened? The contractor believes the jump drive fell off his desk and into a garbage can at a DNR office in Des Moines, Iowa.

What was the response? The agency is notifying the victims and will provide them with free credit monitoring. Officials also are advising them to place a fraud alert on their credit files.

Source:kcrg.com, KCRG-TV News, “DNR tells 7,000: Social Security numbers lost,” Dec. 11.