NCH Corporation data breach: what was exposed and what to do

What information was involved

According to the sample notice letter NCH Corporation filed with the California AG (read the letter), the information involved may include:

NameSocial Security numberDriver's license / state IDPassport numberTax ID / tax documentsBank or financial accountPayment cardMedical informationHealth insurance information

“The files included your name, Social Security number, taxpayer identification number, driver’s license number, and/or state identification card number. The files also may have included one or more of the following: passport number, other government-issued identification number, financial account information, payment card information, medical information, and/or health insurance information.”

Extracted automatically from the letter’s “What information was involved” section. Not every item applies to every person; your own letter says what applied to you.

Steps for the information in this notice

Matched to the information types listed above. All free.

1. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus (free): Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A freeze blocks most new accounts in your name and doesn’t affect your score.
2. Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN at IRS.gov. It stops someone filing a tax return with your Social Security number.
3. Check your Social Security record: create or review your my Social Security account so no one else can claim it.
4. Driver’s license or state ID: watch for mail or tickets you don’t recognize, and ask the DMV about a replacement if you see misuse.
5. Passport number: if you suspect misuse, report it to the State Department.
6. Call your bank or card issuer using the number on the back of your card or your statement. Ask about a new card or account number, and turn on transaction alerts.
7. Review your “explanation of benefits” statements from your health plan for care you didn’t get, and ask your insurer whether a new member ID is possible.
8. Be wary of calls, texts and emails that mention this breach. Don’t give out information; contact the organization using the details in the official letter.

If the letter offers free credit monitoring, enroll using the code in the letter, not a link from an unexpected email or text.

What to do now

This is general guidance for anyone who receives a data breach notice. Read the official notice for details about your situation.

1. Read the official notice. It should say what happened, what kinds of information were involved, and whether free credit monitoring is offered (and the enrollment deadline).
2. Freeze your credit — it's free. A freeze stops new credit from being opened in your name. Contact each bureau separately:
   • Equifax credit freeze
   • Experian credit freeze
   • TransUnion credit freeze
3. Or place a free fraud alert. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening credit. Contact one bureau and it must notify the other two. An initial alert lasts one year.
4. Check your credit reports. Get free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site, and look for accounts you don't recognize.
5. Change passwords. If an account password may be involved, change it, and change it anywhere else you reused it. Turn on two-step verification where you can.
6. Watch your statements for bank, card, insurance, and medical charges you don't recognize, and be wary of calls, texts, or emails that mention the breach and ask for information.
7. If someone uses your information, report it and get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov (Federal Trade Commission).

Read the full what-to-do guide →

Is this breach letter real?

Companies that notify more than 500 Californians must send a sample of the letter to the California Attorney General, so a matching listing on the AG’s site (linked above) is a good sign the notice is genuine. Still, don’t call numbers or click links in an unexpected email or text that mentions a breach. Use the phone number in the mailed letter or on the organization’s own website.