The personal data of about 5,000 employees, contractors and board members was included on a Microsoft Word document accidentally sent outside of the agency.

What type of personal information? Names, Social Security numbers, salaries and titles.

What was the response? Victims were notified June 10, about five days after the incident. They were told to keep watch on their credit files. The agency has agreed to pay for one year of free credit reports and offer fraud insurance of up to $25,000.

Details: Authorities do not believe any of the information has been misused and they are not sure the unintended recipient even opened up the Word document.

Quote: “We know it left the building and that it wound up somewhere it shouldn’t have wound up. We’re looking into how that happened.” - California Department of Consumer Affairs spokesman Russ Heimerich

Source: capitolweekly.com, Capitol Weekly, “Security breach compromises 5,000 Social Security numbers at Consumer Affairs,” June 23.