Please read important letter below from Susan Bricker, President, VCCCDRA
Dear Colleagues,
Both CalPERS and CalSTRS have reported that their members’ data – our data – may have been compromised in a data breach that targeted the system of a company they both use to help identify members’ deaths. We want to share with you what we know thus far based on the information posted to the CalPERS and CalSTRS websites, notifications from CalRTA and CSR.
The first thing you need to know is that the CalPERS and CalSTRS systems were not directly breached, and there is no impact on our retirement payments or the myCalPERS and myCalSTRS accounts you may have set up in their websites. Both of our retirement systems use secure transfer protocols to transfer data to third party vendor PBI Research Services/Berwyn Group. The weakness that allowed the breach was in PBI’s transfer protocols.
That does not mean, however, that your data was not impacted. We already know of two retirees on the Executive Board whose data was compromised, one from CalSTRS and one from CalPRS. The data in the transfer files includes first and last name, date of birth and social security number.
Each of the retirement systems will offer credit monitoring services to impacted members. CalPERS members will be eligible for two years of credit monitoring and identity restoration services. CalSTRS has not identified their credit monitoring service on the website but full information will be included in the letters sent to impacted members.
CalPERS has already mailed letters to all affected members, who should receive them by this Friday, June 30. CalSTRS is mailing letters to all affected members this week, which should be received by July 23.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
First make sure that your contact information is current with your retirement system! Log in to your myCalPERS or myCalSTRS account and select “Update your contact information”. CalSTRS members by also call the Member Service Center at 1-800-228-5453. CalPERS members may call the general number at 1-888-225-7377.
CalSTRS Members:
Check the CalSTRS (calstrs.com) and CalRTA (calrta.org) websites for the most current information on the breach. CalRTA indicated in their notice to members that CalSTRS plans to set up a special phone number for Breach questions. The line is not active yet as far as I can tell, but should be in the near future. You may also contact the Member Service Center number 1-800-228-5453 for information.
CalPERS Members:
Email questions to PBIquestions@calpers.ca.gov or call Experian at 1-833-919-4735. You may also check the CalPERS (calpers.ca.gov) and CSR (calretirees.org) websites for the most current information.
We will continue to inform members of updates to this situation by posting to the BLOG.
Susan Bricker, President
Ventura County Community College District Retirees Association