LBCC Data Breach Impacts 15,008: Exposes Social Security Numbers

inn-Benton Community College (LBCC) in Oregon disclosed a data breach affecting 15,008 individuals across the United States. On January 13, 2025, LBCC was informed by Carruth Compliance Consulting, a third-party service provider, that they had suffered a data security incident.Carruth provides administrative services for retirement plans and monitors compliance for employees of educational and non-profit organizations.

The breach occurred on December 21, 2024, when unauthorized access to personal information was detected

The investigation revealed that the data potentially exposed included:

• Names
• Social Security numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
• Financial account information
• Medical billing information
• W-2 information
• Tax filings

In Maine alone, three residents were affected by this breach. The severity of the breach is underscored by the sensitivity of the information compromised, which could lead to identity theft and financial fraud.

Linn Benton Community College's Response

Upon learning of the breach, LBCC promptly launched an investigation to understand the extent of the incident and identify affected individuals. They collaborated with Carruth, who had already engaged third-party specialists and notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation. By February 24, 2025, LBCC had completed the process of identifying and contacting all affected individuals.

LBCC has offered those impacted complimentary identity protection services, including 12 months of credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, a $1 million identity fraud loss reimbursement policy, and fully managed identity theft recovery services. It is crucial for affected individuals to enroll in these services to mitigate potential risks. Enrollment is available through IDX, a data breach and recovery services expert, and must be completed by May 31, 2025.

About Linn Benton Community College

Linn-Benton Community College serves over 13,000 students annually in Linn and Benton counties, Oregon. The college offers more than 85 programs, including associate degrees, certificates, and transfer options to four-year universities. LBCC prides itself on its small class sizes and commitment to community engagement through various educational programs and services.

For more information, affected individuals can refer to the Maine Attorney General's website for the official disclosure. Additionally, further details about the college and its offerings can be found on the Linn Benton Community College website.