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LAFD Ambulance Riders Warned Of Possible ID Theft Risk

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Hundreds of people who rode in Los Angeles Fire Department ambulances could be at risk of identity theft after the city's billing system was illegally accessed.

KNX 1070's Vytas Safronikas reports investigators with the Internal Revenue Service are looking into whether Social Security numbers and other personal information was stolen.

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The investigation comes after an employee of private contractor Advanced Data Processing Inc. (ADPI) admitted to accessing individual account information for an estimated 900 ambulance riders, according to LAFD officials.

A Fire Department letter was sent out on Oct. 12 notifying affected individuals that their personal data may have been used to file phony tax returns to obtain illegal refunds.

"ADPI has reassured the Los Angeles Fire Department that they have reinforced the importance of the security and the confidentiality of sensitive personal data with all of their employees," LAFD spokesman Eric Scott said.

City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana told the Los Angeles Times that utilizing a private contractor to handle the data ensures that contractor - and not city taxpayers - would be liable in the event of any privacy breach.

Fire officials urged affected ambulance riders to determine whether their information may have been compromised by calling 1-877-264-9622 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time or visit myidcare.com/intersecurity for more information.

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