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   Local rss 

Dumpster diver finds old medical records

   Thursday, January 15, 2009 | 6:49 AM
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     By Jessica Willey

   HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It is information no one would want scattered on papers in
   a parking lot, much less thrown away in a dumpster for anyone to find.
   Medical records were found behind a 99 Cents store in southwest Houston
   putting people's identities at risk.

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   "This has got Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers. That's pretty
   serious," said the man who found the documents.

   Dozens of documents with sensitive personal information were dumped. A
   self-proclaimed dumpster diver who wants to remain anonymous found them.
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   "I found them loose like this," said the man.

   He called Eyewitness News concerned about the people whose information may
   have been compromised.

   "It looks like someone just cleaned out their files, cleaned out their
   office," said the man.

   The files are from Express EMS Services, an ambulance company. There are
   names, date of births, addresses and social security numbers.

   "If someone has your social security number, they really can steal your
   identity," said Richard Alderman, the People's Lawyer.

   Eyewitness News followed the paper trail from the company's last public
   information report in 2006. Express EMS Services is long gone from its
   listed location on Regency Square and other addresses linked to its director
   were not in service. The phone number had been disconnected.

   Still the attorney general's office said they are obviously interested in
   and have prosecuted cases like these. Companies have a legal obligation to
   shred sensitive material properly.

   The People's Lawyer said if you ever used the ambulance service, you may
   want to do some work.

   "If this were me, I'd wait a few weeks and I'd contact the credit bureau and
   I'd get a copy of my credit report and I'd look at it carefully for anything
   unusual," said Alderman.

   Identity thieves can use your personal information to open accounts in your
   name, but the Federal Trade Commission has advice to protect yourself. The
   FTC recommends you file fraud alerts with the main credit agencies and
   immediately close accounts that were opened fraudulently.

   After  that,  file  a  complaint  with  the FTC. The number to call is
   1-877-ID-THEFT.

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abc13 News Team

   Jessica Willey

   As  a  general  assignment reporter, Jessica Willey tells all kinds of
   stories....

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