Some government agencies not helping combat identity theft

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At least some government agencies keep encouraging identity theft.

Bernadine Matthews filed a federal appeal after she was turned down for a job with Waukesha County.

She was sent applications from 130 other people who applied for county jobs in 2006. All of them had Social Security numbers and a host of other information.

The county’s attorney in the case, Ray Pollen, said it was no accident. He said it was state protocol that all parties in a case get information requested by the investigating agency, which in this case was the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the state Equal Rights Division does not mandate that attachments – like the actual job applications – be included.

Matthews told the paper she was shocked when she received all the personal data which included things like jobs applicants’ salaries.

She called those people to say where she got their data and promised not to use it against them.

Once the word got out, the county demanded the job applications back.

But Matthews says it’s key evidence in her case against the county and she made copies before returning it.

The EEOC refused comment.

Tanya Thomas said she’s shocked her personal info got out and Waukesha County should have notified her before doing it.

Tags: wisconsin, news, identiy, theft, goverment, agencies