Aflac health data, Social Security numbers hacked
"This attack, like many insurance companies are currently experiencing, was caused by a sophisticated cybercrime group," Aflac said. "This was part of a cybercrime campaign against the insurance industry." Photo by Sora Shimazak/ Pexels
June 20 (UPI) -- Insurer Aflac said Friday customer health data and Social Security numbers were hacked, but that it stopped the cyber intrusion within hours and the attack did not include ransomware.
Aflac is a U.S.-based company best known for its supplemental policies that help cover expenses that major medical insurance doesn't. It serves some 50 million people worldwide, largely in the United State and Japan.
Aflac said the impacted files include "claims information, health information, Social Security numbers and/or other personal information, related to customers, beneficiaries, employees, agents and other individuals in our U.S. business."
"This attack, like many insurance companies are currently experiencing, was caused by a sophisticated cybercrime group," Aflac said. "This was part of a cybercrime campaign against the insurance industry."
Aflac said it has engaged third-party cybersecurity experts to help respond to the attack.
Preliminary findings indicate that social engineering tactics were used to gain access to Aflac's network.
Until its investigation is finished Aflac said it doesn't know the number of individual customers affected by the data breach.
Aflac said it will offer customers free credit monitoring and identity theft protection and Medical Shield for two years.
To get those benefits Aflac said people should call their call center at 1-855-361-0305.
Erie Insurance and Philadelphia Insurance Compnaies also reported hacks in June. The three cyberattacks resemble techniques used by the hacking group Scattered Spider.
That group was linked to Las Vegas hacks on MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, both multimillion-dollar hacks.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Washington Post
Social Security stops reporting call wait times and other metrics
Social Security has stopped publicly reporting its processing times for benefits, the 1-800 number's current call wait time and numerous other performance metrics, which customers and advocates have used to track the agency's struggling customer service programs. The agency removed a menu of live phone and claims data from its website earlier this month, according to Internet Archive records. It put up a new page this week that offers a far more limited view of the agency's customer service performance. The website also now urges customers to use an online portal for services rather than calling the main phone line or visiting a field office — two options that many disabled and elderly people with limited mobility or computer skills rely on for help. The agency had previously considered cutting phone services and then scrapped those plans amid an uproar. The changes are the latest sign of the agency's struggle with website crashes, overloaded servers and long lines at field offices after cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk's U.S. DOGE Service targeted the agency's customer service system. The decision to remove public-facing data drew sharp criticism from advocates who said that it will make it more difficult to assess how the agency is performing for its 74 million beneficiaries. Former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley, who served as Social Security commissioner under President Joe Biden, said that public disclosure of data provided staff with an incentive for higher performance and held the agency accountable. 'It's a shame that now they are trashing the trust that the public should have in numbers that are timely and accurate and real,' O'Malley said. In response to questions about why the data was removed, a Social Security spokesperson who declined to be named said that as Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano 'continues to evaluate the agency, we are updating our performance metrics to better reflect the real experiences of the people we serve and highlight the fastest ways our customers can get service. The agency will determine if additional information will be provided at a later date.' The spokesperson also provided a statement from Bisignano that said his 'top priority is to turn the Social Security Administration into a model of excellence — one that operates at peak efficiency.' The spokesperson said Bisignano aims to make Social Security a 'digital-first' agency, and the agency wants to encourage customers to use the online portal so staff can focus on more complex cases. Alex Lawson, executive director of the Social Security Works advocacy group, said the data removals 'hide how much they've destroyed the system's customer service.' 'If they think this lack of transparency will fool the American people, they're in for a surprise,' Lawson said. 'People notice when they can't get an appointment because their local field office has lost half its staff. When checks and decisions are delayed. When they get the runaround from an AI chatbot on the phone, instead of getting to talk to a real person.' In response to the criticism, White House spokeswoman Elizabeth Huston said in a statement that President Donald Trump 'is leading the most transparent administration in history' and Bisignano 'is streamlining the Social Security Administration to deliver more efficient and better service for American taxpayers.' Among the performance metrics now withheld was a 'live data' section with current call wait time, callback wait time, number of callers waiting on hold and the number of callers waiting on callback. The new website now shows only the percentage of calls and number of calls handled through automation, the average speed to answer and the total number of customers served. That data is only available for the fiscal year through the last month that data is available. And while the previous dashboard allowed users to click on data points and see trends over time, the new page does not show historical data. The dashboard says that nearly 42 percent of calls — or 27.2 million — were handled through automation in the current fiscal year through the last completed month. In contrast, the Social Security spokesperson said 5 percent — or 2.9 million calls — were handled through automation in the same period in the prior year. The data does not identify what month was used. It took an average of 19.2 minutes to answer calls and 72 percent of customers were served over the phone in this fiscal year through the last available month, the dashboard shows. The current tracker now provides one new statistic about in-person visits: that the average time to wait for an appointment at a field office is 34 days. The page says 'very few services require you to visit a field office' and customers are encouraged again to use the online portal. However, that statistic is a national average and does not help retirees and those with disabilities assess what wait times might be like in their area. Pages with information about the processing times for retirement, survivor, disability and Medicare benefits are now gone, as well as pages about the time it takes to reconsider disability decisions and process appeals. There is no reference to disability benefits on the new page. Another agency webpage does have some historical data about claims available to download. Rich Couture, a spokesman for the largest federal workers union, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), said the loss of 10 percent of the agency's workforce has taken a 'toll on already overworked employees.' 'Removal of real-time performance data from SSA's website will only obscure the impact of the cuts and chaos on public service,' he said in a statement. One Social Security employee, who works in a claims processing center and who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, said she suspects the erased webpages indicate an attempt to hide exploding call times and service backlogs piling up under the second Trump administration. She noted that, in her experience under Trump so far, it is taking at least double the time to process a claim than it did under Biden. She sits near colleagues who handle international calls, she said, and often overhears co-workers tell callers that actions will take 15 to 30 business days to process. She attributed the slowdown to mismanagement driven in part by DOGE, which slashed the agency's staff, hampered its ability to spend and driven down efficiency by enacting massive staff reorganizations. 'Them removing that type of data off the website about processing times doesn't surprise me, because we're so behind on things being processed,' the employee said. 'It's really a mess right now, everything is so far backed up.' The agency took down the data performance page on June 6 and replaced it with a message that the website was under maintenance until Monday, according to Internet Archive records compiled by the Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of unions, and independently verified by The Washington Post. The altered page was then published with fewer statistics and with the added language about using the online portal. 'The fastest way for customers to get service is through my Social Security, which gives you immediate access to important information and tools, putting you in control of your time,' the new website reads. The page also says that the wait time to access online services is '0 minutes' and lists the number of transactions completed online, the count of customers who got replacement cards through the website and the percent of customers who filed for retirement benefits online. The website also says 'if you are thinking of calling us' there's a list of actions you can complete online without having to make the call. Kathryn Locatell, a 68-year-old in Placerville, California, whose 73-year-old husband receives Social Security payments, scoffed at the webpage's updated suggestion that applicants should forgo phone calls in favor of an online portal. She noted that her town is filled with elderly people who do not use smartphones, some of whom cannot even access the internet. When Locatell has visited her local Social Security office, she said she found it filled with older men and women who often wait hours to be seen. 'It's sad,' she said. 'Using an online portal just isn't going to happen in this community … I know it from my personal experience. My husband doesn't use the internet at all.' Across the country in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 76-year-old Joan Garnett, for whom Social Security payments are the primary form of income, was also struggling to understand why the agency would revise its website. She, too, thinks it unrealistic that elderly people will be able to use the portal. And she finds it disturbing that Social Security would take down data on its own performance serving customers. 'The government should be transparent in how they function,' she said. 'If you can't check on things, how do you know it's functioning right?'
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
DATA BREACH ALERT: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Is Investigating Claims On Behalf Of Aflac Incorporated Customers Whose Data May Have Been Compromised
NEWTOWN, Pa., June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating data privacy claims regarding an incident at Aflac Incorporated ('Aflac'). Aflac learned of suspicious activity on its network or about June 12, 2025. About Aflac Incorporated Aflac, a Fortune 500 company, is known for its specialized insurance products that help cover expenses that health insurance may not. Originally established as the American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, it officially shortened its name to Aflac in 1989. What happened? On or around June 12, 2025, Aflac discovered suspicious activity on its network. They immediately launched an investigation and have since determined that this breach was caused by a group of cybercriminals, who potentially gained access to personal information. What type of information was stolen? The personal information in the compromised files may have included: How can I protect my personal data? If you receive a data breach notification concerning Aflac, you must guard against identity theft and fraud by regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring your credit reports for suspicious or unauthorized activity. Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action lawsuit to seek legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised by the Aflac data breach. For more information, please contact: Marc H. Edelson, Esq. EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300 Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2 Email: [email protected] About Edelson Lechtzin LLP Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving data breaches, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft and unpaid overtime, consumer fraud, and catastrophic injuries. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Which 13 states don't tax retirement income?
You may retire from work, but you'll never quite retire from paying taxes. How much you'll pay once you retire depends on the state where you reside. Here are 13 states that don't currently tax retirement income. 1. Alaska No one in Alaska pays state taxes because it doesn't levy an income tax. That means that you won't face a state tax bill for Social Security benefits, pension income, or 401(k) or IRA distributions. Here's something to keep in mind if you have a sudden urge to move to the Last Frontier, though: Local sales taxes in Alaska can reach nearly 8% in some areas, so you'll need to be careful about exactly where you settle down. 2. Florida Florida is known for some pretty sweet tax breaks. For example, there's no state tax on: Two points worth considering if you're considering a move there: The state has been hit with ever-rising insurance rates, and if you hope to get around via public transportation, your options may be limited. 3. Illinois Illinois has a relatively reasonable flat income tax rate of 4.95%. Even better, it doesn't tax retirement income. That means your Social Security benefits, 401(k) and IRA distributions and pension are exempt from state taxes. While retirees get a break, the state does tax investment income, estates worth more than $4 million, and groceries. Also, the sales tax is one of the highest in the country. 4. Iowa Social Security benefits are not taxed, regardless of age. Also, the state doesn't tax retirement income for those 55 and older. This includes distributions from 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans; SEP plans and SIMPLE retirement plans. 5. Mississippi There's a good reason Mississippi is considered tax friendly. The Hospitality State exempts Social Security benefits, pensions and 401(k) and IRA distributions from taxes. While you'll pay a flat state income tax of 4.4% on other types of income exceeding $10,000, there is no estate or inheritance tax in Mississippi, and the income tax rate is scheduled to drop to 4% next year. 6. Nevada Any wages, retirement or investment income you earn while living in Nevada is tax-free. Property taxes aren't bad, but the sales tax is 6.85%, higher than you'll find in most other states. 7. New Hampshire Like Alaska, New Hampshire doesn't levy regular income tax. That means you won't owe taxes on Social Security benefits, pensions or IRA and 401(k) distributions. The cherries on top? The dividend and interest taxes were repealed earlier this year, and New Hampshire is one of the few states with no sales tax. 8. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania offers an attractive flat income tax rate of 3.07%, and you won't pay a penny on IRA and 401(k) distributions, Social Security or pensions. If you're considering a move, you might want to keep the state's heavy inheritance tax in mind, though. 9. South Dakota South Dakota is more than Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore (although those are pretty great features). The state doesn't tax personal income, meaning your retirement income is 100% safe from state taxes. You won't have to pay taxes on income from dividends or interest, either. Plus, South Dakota doesn't collect inheritance or estate taxes. 10. Tennessee Like many of the states listed here, Tennessee doesn't tax personal income. If you're a resident, that means you can collect your Social Security benefits, pension and 401(k) or IRA distributions free of state tax. 11. Texas Joining the list of retiree-friendly states, Texas levies no personal income tax, meaning any money you earn on the job, through retirement income, or from an inheritance is tax-free. Where you might get nipped is with the sales tax, which can be quite high depending on where you live. 12. Washington Washington residents not only have access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the U.S., but they also live in the Evergreen State without paying personal income taxes. While Washington does tax the sale of assets like stocks and bonds (with gains exceeding $250,000 annually), you won't have to pay tax on Social Security, pension income or 401(k) and IRA distributions. The fly in the ointment is the combined sales tax in Washington, the fourth highest in the nation. 13. Wyoming If you live in Wyoming, you don't have to pay state income tax on wages, investment earnings, or any retirement and pension income, including Social Security and military retirement benefits. In addition to keeping a lid on its state and local sales taxes, there's no tax due on interest and dividend income, personal or corporate income or inheritances. Regardless of where you live, keep a close eye on the tax laws in your state, since they're frequently updated. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook Offer from the Motley Fool: If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets"could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. JoinStock Advisorto learn more about these strategies. View the "Social Security secrets" »
