Insurer’s injured workers’ data stolen; sold on Internet

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Personal information on 72 workers’ compensation claimants was stolen from Wisconsin-based Sentry Insurance and later sold over the Internet, the company said.

The data sold included names and Social Security numbers but not medical records, Sentry said. Data on an additional 112,198 claimants also was stolen, but there is no evidence it was sold, the company said.

Sentry said it notified everyone affected and was providing credit monitoring services to help prevent fraud.

The thief was “a lead programmer/consultant with a nationally recognized computer contractor” hired by Sentry, based in Stevens Point, Wis., company officials said. Sentry said the consultant was arrested outside Wisconsin by the Secret Service and faces federal felony charges.