#United States #Data Breach #Identity Theft #Baton Rouge #St. James

Notification of Data Privacy Incident

St. James Place of Baton Rouge has announced a significant data privacy incident that has impacted certain current and former members of its community. The organization has acted swiftly to address the situation, aiming to protect the personal information of those affected.

What Happened?

On August 2, 2024, the St. James management first detected a disruption within their network systems. Taking immediate action, they worked to secure their systems while launching an investigation that included hiring independent forensic specialists. The findings disclosed that unauthorized activities had occurred on their network from July 30 through August 2, 2024. This unauthorized access potentially affected a variety of sensitive data.

Overview of Affected Information

The information compromised during the incident varies depending on the individual but may include:

• - Names
• - Social Security numbers
• - Driver's license or state identification numbers
• - Passport numbers
• - Financial account details
• - Payment card information
• - Dates of birth
• - Medical treatment and diagnostic data
• - Health insurance records

Given the sensitivity of the data involved, the St. James administration is taking comprehensive steps to mitigate any further risk. A rigorous review of the accessed data was completed by March 4, 2026, confirming that sensitive personal information and protected health information were part of the compromised data set.

Communication with Affected Individuals

While the data review was still in progress, St. James Place mailed notifications to individuals whose information was identified as affected on January 28, 2026. Follow-up letters were dispatched to additional affected parties on May 5, 2026. This notification is part of their commitment to transparency and ensuring that individuals remain informed about their personal information security status.

Steps Taken to Address the Incident

Fortunately, St. James Place has stated that there have been no indications of fraud or identity theft stemming from the incident thus far. They have prioritized not only securing their networks but have also reported the situation to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

Additionally, for those whose Social Security numbers were involved, St. James is providing complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services in collaboration with Kroll, a leader in risk mitigation and response.

Guidance for Affected Individuals

St. James Place encourages individuals to remain vigilant by monitoring credit reports and financial statements for any unusual activity. They remind everyone that a free credit report is available annually from each of the three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. To obtain these reports, visit annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

In addition to reviewing one's credit reports, affected individuals are advised to learn more about identity theft, including fraud alerts and credit freezes. They can contact the credit reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or state Attorneys General for further assistance. To report any misuse of personal information, the FTC can be reached at 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20580, or by visiting identitytheft.gov or calling 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).

For Further Assistance

For more details regarding the extent of the incident or support, individuals can contact St. James’ dedicated assistance line with Kroll at (844) 425-7453. Support is available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6:30 pm Eastern Time, excluding major US holidays.

As data privacy continues to be a crucial aspect of personal security, staying informed and vigilant is essential for all individuals to protect their information actively.