American International College Data Breach Affects 11,822 People

The December 2023 Data Breach at American International College

On December 3, 2023, American International College (AIC) detected suspicious activity within its network. The institution promptly initiated an investigation with the help of third-party forensic experts. This investigation revealed that from November 14, 2023, to December 3, 2023, there was unauthorized access to AIC’s digital environment. The breach allowed unauthorized actors to potentially access or extract sensitive information stored on the network. By April 8, 2024, it was confirmed that the data potentially impacted included personal information related to residents of Maine, among others.

Information Exposed

• Name
• Social Security Number

American International College's Response

Upon discovering the breach, AIC took immediate action to secure its systems and mitigate any potential damage. The college has notified federal law enforcement and is cooperating with ongoing investigations. To further protect affected individuals, AIC has implemented additional security measures and provided training to its employees on data security. Moreover, AIC is offering 12 months of complimentary credit monitoring services through Experian to those impacted. They have also issued guidance on how to place fraud alerts and security freezes on credit files.

Steps to Take if You Are Affected

If you believe your information was compromised in this breach, it is crucial to act swiftly to safeguard your identity:

1. Enroll in the free credit monitoring service provided by AIC to detect potential misuse of your information.
2. Regularly review your account statements and credit reports for any unauthorized activity.
3. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports, which makes it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name.
4. Alternatively, you might want to place a credit freeze on your reports, which prevents creditors from accessing your credit report entirely.
5. Stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.

For more detailed instructions and additional resources, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft website.

About American International College

American International College is a private, coeducational institution based in Springfield, Massachusetts. The college offers a variety of programs through its schools of Arts, Education and Sciences; Business Administration; Health Sciences; and Continuing Education.

For further details on the breach and AIC's response, please refer to the official notice provided to consumers, available on the Maine Attorney General's website.