Notice of Data Security Incident

Orange, VA – February 23, 2024 - The privacy and security of the personal information we maintain is of the utmost importance to Somerville & Wilkinson, Ltd.

Somerville recently learned that an unauthorized individual gained access to its title assistant’s email account. Upon learning of this issue, we contained and secured the threat and commenced a prompt and thorough investigation. As part of our investigation, we have been working very closely with external cybersecurity professionals experienced in handling these types of incidents.

Following a forensics investigation and internal review of the impacted emails, we discovered on January 25, 2024 that files containing personal information were accessed and potentially acquired by an unauthorized party between October 12, 2023 and November 6, 2023. The potentially impacted information includes Social Security number, driver’s license or state ID, financial account number, routing number, financial institution name, medical information, and non-U.S. national identification number.

We have no evidence that any personal information has been or will be misused for identity theft or medical/financial fraud as a direct result of this incident. However, out of abundance of caution, commencing on February 23, 2024, Somerville notified individuals whose information may have been included in the impacted files to the extent we had their mailing address. Notified individuals have been provided with best practices to protect their information, and individuals whose Social Security numbers were contained in the impacted files have been offered complimentary credit monitoring. Notified individuals should also review the preventive measures outlined in the “Other Important Information” section.

Somerville is committed to maintaining the privacy of personal information in its possession and has taken many precautions to safeguard it. Somerville continually evaluates and modifies its practices to enhance the security and privacy of the personal information it maintains,

If you have any further questions regarding this incident, please contact Richard Wilkinson or Emily Riner at 1-540-672-3200.

Once you receive your credit reports, review them for discrepancies. Identify any accounts you did not open or inquiries from creditors that you did not authorize. Verify all information is correct. If you have questions or notice incorrect information, contact the credit reporting company.

2. Placing a Fraud Alert on Your Credit File.

You can place an initial 1-year “fraud alert” on your credit files, at no charge. An initial fraud alert is free and will stay on your credit file for at least twelve months. The alert informs creditors of possible fraudulent activity within your report and requests that the creditor contact you before establishing any accounts in your name. To place a fraud alert, call any one of the three major credit bureaus at the numbers listed below. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, they will notify the others. Additional information is available at https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts/. 

3. Placing a Security Freeze on Your Credit File.

Following is general information about how to request a security freeze from the three credit reporting agencies at no charge. While we believe this information is accurate, you should contact each agency for the most accurate and up-to-date information. A security freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing any information from a consumer’s credit report without written authorization. However, please be aware that placing a security freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, credit, mortgages, employment, housing, or other services. There might be additional information required, and as such, to find out more information, please contact the three nationwide credit reporting agencies (contact information provided below). You may place a security freeze on your credit report by contacting all three nationwide credit reporting companies at the numbers below and following the stated directions or by sending a request in writing, by mail, to all three credit reporting companies:

4. Protecting Your Medical Information.

We have no evidence that your medical information involved in this incident was or will be used for any unintended purposes. However, the following practices can provide additional safeguards to protect against medical identity theft.

• Only share your health insurance cards with your health care providers and other family members who are covered under your insurance plan or who help you with your medical care. 

• Review your “explanation of benefits statement” which you receive from your health insurance company. Follow up with your insurance company or care provider for any items you do not recognize. If necessary, contact the care provider on the explanation of benefits statement and ask for copies of medical records from the date of the potential access (noted above) to current date.

• Ask your insurance company for a current year-to-date report of all services paid for you as a beneficiary. Follow up with your insurance company or the care provider for any items you do not recognize. 

5. Additional Helpful Resources.

Even if you do not find any suspicious activity on your initial credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you check your credit reports periodically. Checking your credit report periodically can help you spot problems and address them quickly.

If you find suspicious activity on your credit reports or have reason to believe your information is being misused, call your local law enforcement agency and file a police report. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report, as many creditors will want the information it contains to absolve you of the fraudulent debts. You may also file a complaint with the FTC by contacting them on the web at www.ftc.gov/idtheft, by phone at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338), or by mail at Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Your complaint will be added to the FTC’s Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, where it will be accessible to law enforcement for their investigations. In addition, you may obtain information from the FTC about fraud alerts and security freezes.

Maryland Residents: You may obtain information about avoiding identity theft from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, Consumer Protection Division, 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202, https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/, Telephone: 888-743-0023.

North Carolina Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office: Office of the Attorney General of North Carolina, Consumer Protection Division, 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, www.ncdoj.gov/, Telephone: 877-566-7226 (Toll-free within North Carolina), 919-716-6000.

Washington D.C. Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, 400 6th Street NW, Washington D.C. 20001, https://oag.dc.gov/consumer-protection, Telephone: 202-442-9828.