On October 19, 2023, Dollar Energy Fund, Inc. (“DEF”) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Maine after discovering that its network was accessed by an unauthorized party. In this notice, Dollar Energy Fund explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names and Social Security numbers. Upon completing its investigation, Dollar Energy Fund began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.
If you receive a data breach notification from Dollar Energy Fund, Inc., it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. As we’ve previously discussed in other posts, after stealing your Social Security number, hackers can wreak havoc on your financial life by committing identity theft and other frauds against you. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the Dollar Energy Fund data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
What Caused the Data Breach Affecting Dollar Energy Fund?
The Dollar Energy Fund data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, Dollar Energy Fund’s filing with the Attorney General of Maine provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on February 5, 2023, DEF learned that it had experienced a network disruption. In response, the organization launched an investigation with the help of third-party cybersecurity specialists.
The Dollar Energy Fund investigation confirmed that its network was accessed by an unauthorized party between January 31, 2023 and February 5, 2023. DEF later determined that some of the files that were accessible to the unauthorized party contained confidential consumer information.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Dollar Energy Fund reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. Dollar Energy Fund completed this process on August 15, 2023. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name and Social Security number
Beginning on September 28, 2023, Dollar Energy Fund sent out data breach letters on a rolling basis to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident. Dollar Energy Fund sent the last letter on October 19, 2023. These letters should provide victims with a list of what information belonging to them was compromised.
More Information About Dollar Energy Fund, Inc.
Founded in 1983, Dollar Energy Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that serves lower-income families by providing them with utility assistance grants and other services. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dollar Energy Fund partners with utility companies, which pay the organization’s administrative costs, so 100 percent of all donations are used for utility assistance grants. Dollar Energy Fund employs more than 98 people and generates approximately $22 million in annual revenue.
