Stetson University is warning its students who are pursuing degrees in education that a data security error occurred within the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) in Tallahassee. The security breach impacts teacher education candidates enrolled in a Florida teacher preparation program or who graduated from a Florida teacher preparation program between the 2009 and 2012 academic years.

While FLDOE is not aware of any evidence that education students’ secure data was accessed for inappropriate use, Stetson’s Department of Education is recommending that students follow these instructions from the FLDOE:

“…(P)rogram participants who suspect their Social Security number or other personal information may have been misused or that they may be the victim of identity theft should contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338). Affected persons may also call their local sheriff’s office and file a police report of identity theft, keeping a copy of the police report.

“To protect themselves from the possibility of identity theft, individuals are encouraged to place a free fraud alert on their credit files. A fraud alert notifies creditors to contact individuals before opening new accounts in their name. Call any one of the three major credit reporting agencies at the numbers below to place a fraud alert and receive letters from the agencies with instructions on how to receive a free copy of their credit report.”

Phone numbers for the major credit reporting agencies are: Experian, 1-888-397-3742;
 Equifax, 1-888-766-0008;
 TransUnion, 1-800-680-7289.