Johns Hopkins investigating identity theft incident

Authorities are investigating the theft of patient information from Johns Hopkins Hospital, possibly by a former employee. The theft appears to have been part of a scheme to make fraudulent Virginia driver's licenses.

The employee targeted by the probe worked in the patient registration area, where she would have had access to key patient information such as names, addresses, parents' names and Social Security numbers. Officials expect her to be indicted, though it's not absolutely certain that she was the thief.

In the wake of the investigation, law enforcement agencies have named 46 victims of identity theft, including 31 who were connected to Johns Hopkins. The institution is offering credit monitoring and other help to these 31, as well as to more than 500 people with Virginia mailing addresses whose records were accessed by the errant employee.

Johns Hopkins officials have also notified about 10,200 people, such as those who guaranteed payment for treatment, to watch their accounts for improper activity.

To learn more about this security issue:
- read this piece from The Baltimore Sun

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