Security of FAFSA, TOPS compromised
LOSFA waits weeks to notify University
Ginger Gibson
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: News
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The state office that handles college loans and scholarship applications announced Monday they are missing a file containing information from FAFSA and TOPS applications after waiting almost a month to notify those affected by the loss.
Melanie Amrhein, director of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, said the public should be aware that information generally used in identity theft like names and social security numbers were compromised. But added security measures placed on the data make it unlikely that anyone will be able to decipher the missing information.
The office learned of the loss on Sept. 20. Amrhein said the office took nearly a month to notify students because they were attempting to locate the disk before deciding it was missing and then were conducting an investigation through the Attorney General's office.
LSU System spokesman Charles Zewe said the University did not learn of the breach until Monday at 3:30 p.m. when a student at the University of New Orleans contacted him after seeing a brief story on a New Orleans television station's Web site.
"We have still not been 'officially' notified that there is a problem in a letter from LOFSA, but the System Office has moved to notify our campuses as quickly as possible," Zewe said. "While LSU acknowledges that mistakes happen, and there is no indication yet that any personal financial data has been compromised, it is very disturbing that it took almost a month to notify the universities and their students that there might be a significant problem."
Kris Wartelle, public information director for the Attorney General, said the office is conducting an investigation about the lost file but refused to say exactly when her office became aware of the problem.
"We have just been contacted about it," Wartelle said, refusing to comment on any more details about the investigation.
Amrhein said she could not disclose how many people were included in the breach.
Melanie Amrhein, director of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, said the public should be aware that information generally used in identity theft like names and social security numbers were compromised. But added security measures placed on the data make it unlikely that anyone will be able to decipher the missing information.
The office learned of the loss on Sept. 20. Amrhein said the office took nearly a month to notify students because they were attempting to locate the disk before deciding it was missing and then were conducting an investigation through the Attorney General's office.
LSU System spokesman Charles Zewe said the University did not learn of the breach until Monday at 3:30 p.m. when a student at the University of New Orleans contacted him after seeing a brief story on a New Orleans television station's Web site.
"We have still not been 'officially' notified that there is a problem in a letter from LOFSA, but the System Office has moved to notify our campuses as quickly as possible," Zewe said. "While LSU acknowledges that mistakes happen, and there is no indication yet that any personal financial data has been compromised, it is very disturbing that it took almost a month to notify the universities and their students that there might be a significant problem."
Kris Wartelle, public information director for the Attorney General, said the office is conducting an investigation about the lost file but refused to say exactly when her office became aware of the problem.
"We have just been contacted about it," Wartelle said, refusing to comment on any more details about the investigation.
Amrhein said she could not disclose how many people were included in the breach.
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