DSHS Offers Free Help for Victims in East Texas Case

MT. PLEASANT — The Texas Department of State Health Services is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft services for people whose personal information was allegedly found in the possession of a former DSHS employee without authorization. The former employee, Selena Patino (pictured), had worked at the agency’s Mount Pleasant clinic until last fall and was arrested in January on fraud and credit card abuse charges. Prior to her arrest she worked at the Northeast Texas Public Health District.

According to a DSHS news release, the department has identified people whose information may have been accessed by the former employee and is notifying them by letter of the free services. However, officials say, there may be additional potential victims. People who worked with Patino or received services at the clinic and believe they were affected are urged to contact DSHS at 1-800-350-6029 to request the free credit monitoring and identity theft services. DSHS will provide the free services for one year to those affected.

People who think they may be victims of identity theft also should contact the credit bureaus for guidance and be on alert for any evidence of misuse of personal information, according to DSHS. If people find evidence that their personal information has been misused, officials say they should notify local law enforcement.

The credit bureaus can be contacted as follows:

EQUIFAX

P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
http://www.fraudalerts.equifax.com
Fraud hotline (toll-free): 1-877-478-7625

EXPERIAN

P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
http://www.experian.com
Fraud hotline (toll-free): 1-888-397-3742

TRANSUNION

Email to report suspected fraud at: [email protected]
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
http://www.transunion.com
Fraud hotline (toll-free): 1-800-680-7289