The Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin has notified individuals that an unauthorized person gained access to some of its computer systems between October 25 and October 30, 2024, and copied certain files during that time. This was a case of hacking or system intrusion, and the court says it worked with a cybersecurity firm to investigate, contain the incident, and notify law enforcement. It then spent a substantial amount of time reviewing the affected files to determine exactly whose information was involved and what those files contained.
The notice is addressed to individuals whose personal information was found in the files that were accessed, though the letter does not state a total number of people affected. If you received this letter, it means the court has determined your information was likely among the files an unauthorized party obtained.
What information was exposed?
- Full name
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license or California identification card number
- Tax identification number
- Passport number
- Military identification number
- Account, credit, or debit card number
- Medical information
- Health insurance information
The court is offering a complimentary one-year membership in Experian IdentityWorks to affected individuals, with a separate Minor Plus option for children. Adults can enroll at https://www.experianidworks.com/credit using Activation Code D56KGFR8Q, or by calling (877) 288-8057 with Activation Code and Engagement Number B154380. For minors, a parent or guardian can enroll at https://www.experianidworks.com/minorplus using Activation Code ZQS7MVKHS, or by calling (877) 288-8057 with Activation Code and Engagement Number B154381. The deadline to enroll is 5:59 p.m. Central Time on November 30, 2027.
What should you do now?
- Enroll in the free Experian IdentityWorks membership before the November 30, 2027 deadline, since it includes credit monitoring, dark web surveillance, and identity restoration support at no cost to you.
- Because your Social Security number, driver’s license or ID number, and financial account information were involved, consider placing a fraud alert or a full credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — freezes are free and make it harder for anyone to open new accounts in your name.
- Review your bank and credit card statements closely for any unfamiliar charges, and check your free annual credit reports at annualcreditreport.com for accounts you don’t recognize.
- Because medical and health insurance information was also involved, watch your insurance explanation-of-benefits statements for services you didn’t receive, which can be a sign of medical identity theft.
- Given the sensitivity of the data involved, consider signing up for a service like Aura or LifeLock, which can alert you if your information appears elsewhere.
- If you notice signs of fraud, file a report with your local police department and the FTC at identitytheft.gov, and keep a copy of the report in case creditors ask for it.
If you have questions, the Superior Court can be reached at (844) 354-1371, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, excluding major U.S. holidays.