Posted On April 25, 2022 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches

Guide for Victims of the Burkhart Dental Supply Data Breach

April 25, 2022 – Recently, Burkhart Dental Supply Co, Inc. confirmed that the company experienced a data breach in October 2021. On April 20, 2022, Burkhart Dental Supply began sending out data breach notification letters to all affected parties, informing them that the compromised information may have included their name, Social Security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number or other government identification number.

The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are actively investigating the Burkhart Dental Supply data breach. Our law firm is investigating the Burkhart Dental Supply data breach and is currently seeking to interview as many victims of the breach as possible to determine how they were impacted and what legal options may be available to them. If you would be willing to participate in the investigation and would like to have a free consultation and case evaluation, please contact us as soon as possible.

In 2021, there were 1,862 data breaches affecting more than 189,000,000 individuals. Victims of identity theft spend, on average, 200 hours and more than $1,300 recovering their identity. Many of these victims also suffer credit damage, emotional distress, and may even end up with a criminal record. Taking immediate action is the best way to prevent the worst consequences of a data breach.

What We Know So Far About the Burkhart Dental Supply Breach

According to the recent data breach letter, on around October 7, 2021, Burkhart Dental Supply learned of a potential data security incident. In response, the company began an investigation into the incident to learn more about its causes and whether any consumer data was compromised as a result. On March 3, 2022, the company announced that its investigation confirmed that certain customers’ names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and driver’s license numbers or other government-issued identification numbers were among the affected data.

On April 20, 2022, Burkhart Dental Supply began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident.

Founded in 1888, Burkhart Dental Supply Co. Inc. provides a wide range of supplies to dentists across the country. Originally called “Tacoma Dental Depot,” the company is based in Tacoma, Washington, and operates 18 branches scattered throughout the southern and western United States. Burkhart Dental Supply employs over 400 people and generates annual revenue of approximately $153 million.

Can Consumers Whose Data Was Leaked Pursue Legal Action Against a Company?

When you allowed Burkhart access to your personal data, you trusted the company to keep your sensitive information safe. However, news of the Burkhart data breach raises some very serious questions about the company’s data security measures and whether the company could have done more to prevent this type of cyber-attack.

Regardless of the industry, all businesses have a legal obligation to protect consumer information in their possession. Although creating and maintaining a data security system is costly, this is a necessary expense given the frequency with which cyberattacks occur.

Consumers whose personal, identifying, financial or healthcare-related data was compromised in a data breach can pursue legal action against a company that misused or mishandled their information. However, the investigation into the Burkhart Dental Supply breach is only in its beginning phases. For that reason, it is too early to tell if Burkhart was legally responsible for the breach. However, our data breach attorneys are investigating the Burkhart Dental Supply security breach to determine the potential legal remedies of those affected.

If you have questions about your ability to pursue a data breach class action lawsuit against Burkhart, contact a data breach attorney as soon as possible.

What to Do If You Received a Data Breach Notification from Burkhart

If you receive a data breach notification from Burkhart in the coming weeks, it means your personal data was compromised in the recent cyberattack. It also means a cybercriminal may have had access to—and may have stolen—your personal data. Given the risks involved, it is important you remain vigilant by taking the following steps:

1. Figure Out What Information Was Stolen: Carefully review the data breach letter sent by Burkhart, keeping in mind the information you provided to the company as well as the type of data that was compromised in the breach. You should also take a copy of the data breach letter and keep it for your records. Of course, data breach letters are not always easy to understand. A consumer privacy lawyer can help victims of a data breach understand what was compromised and how to protect themselves.
2. Prevent the Hacker from Accessing Your Accounts: Once you determine the scope of the breach and how it affected you, you should take all steps to prevent cybercriminals from accessing your credit or financial accounts. For example, you should change all passwords and security questions for your online accounts. You should also consider setting up multi-factor authentication where it is available.
3. Protect Your Credit and Your Financial Accounts: In the wake of a data breach, companies usually provide free credit monitoring services for a specified period of time. This is not a gimmick, and you do not give up any rights by taking a company up on their offer. Additionally, you should contact one of the three main credit bureaus to request a copy of your credit report. Even if you do not notice any signs of fraud or unauthorized activity, it is a good idea to request a fraud alert. Fraud alerts are free and serve as a red flag to potential lenders and creditors that your information was compromised.
4. Consider a Credit Freeze: A credit freeze prevents access to your credit report unless you specifically authorize it. Credit freezes are free and last until you remove them. While placing a credit freeze on your accounts may initially seem like a drastic measure, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (“ITRC”), doing so is the “single most effective way to prevent a new credit/financial account from being opened.” However, ITRC reports that just 3% of consumers whose information is leaked place a freeze on their accounts. Once a credit freeze is in place, you can temporarily lift the freeze if you need to apply for any type of credit.
5. Regularly Monitor Your Credit Report and Financial Accounts: Protecting yourself in the wake of a data breach is not a one-time task. You should continually monitor your credit report and all financial accounts, keeping an eye out for any signs of unauthorized activity or fraud. You may also consider calling your banks and credit card companies to report the fact that your information was compromised in a data breach.

If You Have Questions About Your Rights Following the Burkhart Dental Supply Data Breach, Console & Associates, P.C. Can Help

At Console & Associates, P.C., our consumer privacy lawyers monitor all security and data breaches to help affected consumers pursue their legal remedies. We offer free consultations to victims of data breaches and can explain your rights in clear, understandable terms so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed with your case. If you’ve been affected by the Burkhart data breach or any other data security incident, Console & Associates, P.C., will investigate your case at no charge and offer you thorough advice about how to most effectively proceed with your case. If you decide to bring a case, we only get paid if you do. If your claim is successful, any legal fees are either paid by the defendant or come out of the funds recovered from the defendant. If your claim doesn’t result in a recovery, you will pay nothing.

To schedule your free consultation, just call (866) 778-5500 today or fill out our secure contact form.

What Was Sent to Those Affected By the Burkhart Dental Data Breach?

Below is a copy of the initial data breach letter issued by Burkhart Dental Supply:

Dear [Consumer],

I am writing to inform you of a recent data security incident experienced by Burkhart Dental Supply Co., Inc. (“Burkhart Dental Supply”) that may have involved your information. Please read carefully as this letter contains background information about the incident, the type of information involved, and steps you can take to protect your information.

What Happened. On or around October 7, 2021, Burkhart Dental Supply became aware of a potential data security incident. Upon discovery, we immediately took steps to limit the impact of the incident, which included engaging cybersecurity experts to conduct an investigation to determine the source and scope of the incident. As a result of that investigation, a detailed review was conducted of potentially impacted data, and on March 3, 2022, it was determined that your information may have been impacted by the incident.

What Information Was Involved. The information may have included your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number or other government-issued identification number.

What We Are Doing. As soon as we discovered this incident, we took the measures referenced above. As part of the response process, we implemented additional measures and features to reduce the risk of a similar incident occurring in the future.

We are also providing you with information about steps you can take to help protect your information, and as an added precaution, we are offering you identity theft protection services through IDX, a national leader in identity theft protection and recovery services. IDX identity protection services include: <<12 or 24 months>> of credit and CyberScan monitoring, a $1,000,000 insurance reimbursement policy, and fully managed identity theft recovery services. With this protection, IDX will help resolve issues if your identity is compromised.

To enroll, please go to https://app.idx.us/account-creation/protect or call 1-800-939-4170. When prompted, please provide the unique enrollment code at the top of your letter, to receive the services. The deadline to enroll is July 20, 2022.

What You Can Do. You can enroll in the complimentary credit and identity monitoring services offered in this letter. In addition, you can review the resources provided on the following pages for additional steps to protect your personal information.

For More Information. If you have any questions regarding the incident or would like assistance with enrolling in the credit and identity monitoring services, please call 1-800-939-4170 between 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Central Time from Monday to Friday.

The security of your information is our top priority at Burkhart Dental Supply, and we are committed to safeguarding your data and privacy. Please accept our sincere apologies and know that we deeply regret any worry or inconvenience that this may cause you.