Over the past weekend the State of Rhode Island announced that its RIBridges platform had been targeted by cybercriminals. The RIBridges platform was used to manage many of the state’s health and benefits programs. Personal data including names, addresses, birthdates, Social Security Numbers, and bank account information may have been compromised in the attack.
While the State of Rhode Island is still in the process of determining exactly who was impacted by the breach, any Rhode Islander who has used the following services could potentially have had their sensitive information compromised:
- Medicaid
- Health insurance purchased through HealthSource RI
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
- General Public Assistance Program (GPA)
- Rhode Island Works (RIW)
- At HOME Cost Share
Once a data analysis is complete, households that have had their sensitive information compromised will receive a letter in the mail from the State of Rhode Island. However, those who may have been impacted should not wait to take action. The State of Rhode Island is advising anyone who may have been impacted to remain vigilant and monitor their bank accounts and credit reports for any unauthorized activity. It is also advised to consider placing a security freeze or fraud alert with each of the three major credit reporting bureaus.
Those impacted should also consider updating passwords on their online accounts, especially if those passwords may have been used across accounts. Ensure that all accounts have a unique, strong password, and that passwords are updated frequently. You might also consider utilizing biometric logins, such as fingerprint or facial scans, for additional security. It’s also a good idea to use multi-factor authentication for your accounts whenever possible.
BankFive urges its Rhode Island customers to take precautionary measures to secure their accounts. If you believe you may have been impacted by this data breach, we recommend changing your Online Banking password immediately and using Online Banking and the BankFive mobile app to monitor your accounts for any unauthorized activity. Be sure to report any suspicious activity to us immediately. You can also use our new, free credit monitoring tool within Online Banking to keep an eye on your credit report. And remember that BankFive will never contact you to request sensitive information. If you receive a call, email, or text message purporting to be from BankFive, your best bet is to not respond to it, and instead, contact us directly with any questions or concerns.
Visit our Security Center for more information on keeping your BankFive accounts safe.