Q: What should I do if a company gave my completed application to a new applicant with my family's ss#s, names, everything?
I was contacted on Facebook messenger from a random woman telling me, my completed application was sent to her via email, when she was expecting a blank one.
She shared a screenshot showing she informed the apartment manager that she sent her the wrong app and then was sent a correct blank application.
The applications I'm referring to are for new low income apartments. My application was sent to this lady who found me on Facebook to tell me. Our ss#, names, birth dates, everything, was on the application she now has access to and seen.
I notified the county housing, since I was in the middle of getting income verification to them for these apartments. No-one from the apartment management contacted me at all. Today I had a meeting with the apartment management to sign income papers and brought up my privacy breach. The lady dismissed it like it was no big deal and said the company, FPI, has offered a year of Life Lock for my family. No apology or explaination!
A:
Under California law, your situation constitutes a serious breach of privacy, specifically relating to personal and sensitive information. You have rights under state law to protect your personal information. The first step you should take is to document everything: the communication with the woman who received your information, all correspondences with the apartment management, and any other relevant interactions.
Consider contacting the California Attorney General's office to report the breach of privacy. They can guide you on the next steps and investigate the matter further. Additionally, it would be wise to reach out to a legal advisor to understand your specific rights and potential actions you can take against the company for this breach.
While the offer of a year of LifeLock is a start, it may not fully compensate for the potential risk you and your family face. Monitor your credit reports and consider placing a freeze on your credit to prevent unauthorized activities. Keep all evidence and communications in case you decide to take legal action. Your privacy is important, and you have avenues to seek redress under California law.
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