Notice of Data Event

Detroit PBS is providing notice of a recent data security incident. Although Detroit PBS presently has no evidence that any such information has been used to commit identity theft or fraud, Detroit PBS is providing information about the incident, steps taken since discovering the incident, and resources available to individuals to help protect their information from possible misuse, should they feel it is necessary to do so.

 

What Happened? On September 1, 2024, Detroit PBS detected suspicious activity related to certain systems within its environment. Detroit PBS took steps to secure the environment and launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that between August 12, 2024 and August 31, 2024, an unauthorized actor gained access to Detroit PBS’s computer network, and potentially accessed and/or acquired a limited number of files. As a result, Detroit PBS began a diligent and comprehensive review of relevant systems to determine the information that may have been impacted and to identify to whom it belonged. This process was completed on January 10, 2025. At this time, Detroit PBS has no indication that individuals’ information was subject to actual or attempted misuse in connection with this incident.

 

What Information Was Affected? The information potentially affected may include a combination of certain individuals’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, driver’s license/ state identification numbers financial account information, usernames and passwords, employer identification numbers, medical information, and health insurance information. The type of information at issue varies for each person.

 

What Detroit PBS is Doing. Detroit PBS takes this incident and the security of information within its care very seriously. Upon discovery of this incident, Detroit PBS immediately launched an in-depth investigation to determine the full nature and scope of this incident. This investigation and response included confirming the security of our systems, reviewing the contents of relevant data for sensitive information, and investigating to determine the information that may be involved.  Detroit PBS also notified federal law enforcement. As part of Detroit PBS’ ongoing commitment to the privacy of information in its care, Detroit PBS strengthened our existing security policies and procedures as well as implemented additional security measures to further protect against similar incidents in the future. Detroit PBS is also notifying state regulators, as required.

 

For More Information.  If you believe you are potentially impacted by this incident or have additional questions, you may contact our dedicated assistance line at 1-833-918-6624 (toll free), Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time (excluding U.S. holidays). You may write to Detroit PBS at 48325 Alpha Drive, Suite 150 Wixom, Michigan 48393 with any additional questions you may have.

 

What You Can Do. Detroit PBS encourages all potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant by reviewing account statements, monitoring free credit reports and Explanation of Benefits for suspicious activity, and to detect errors.  Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228.  You may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of your credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report.  To request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card,  etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of identity theft.

 

Should you wish to place a fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

 

 

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

 

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001; 202-727-3400; and oag.dc.gov.

 

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

 

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.

 

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

 

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

 

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; www.riag.ri.gov; and 1-401-274-4400. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event. The number of Rhode Island residents is currently unknown.

 

Last updated February 21, 2025