Fairfax Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

On May 16, 2023, Fairfax Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (FOMS) in Virginia experienced a significant data breach when an unauthorized party accessed and encrypted certain files on their computer network. The breach potentially compromised the personal information of up to 235,931 individuals[3]. The types of personal information involved varied by individual but may have included names, driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, health insurance information, and medical information[1][3].

FOMS began an internal investigation, notified law enforcement, and engaged a forensic security firm to secure their systems and investigate the breach. The investigation concluded that the unauthorized access occurred between May 15 and May 16, 2023. Although there was no evidence that any files were acquired from the network, the possibility that data was stolen could not be ruled out[1][3].

In response to the incident, FOMS began sending written notifications to affected individuals on July 14, 2023, and offered complimentary identity theft protection services. They advised individuals to remain vigilant by monitoring their account statements and credit reports and reporting any suspicious activity[1].

A class-action lawsuit was filed against FOMS by Mason LLP, alleging that over 206,000 people’s private information was exfiltrated and is now in the hands of cybercriminals due to inadequate data security measures[5]. The lawsuit suggests that the breach could lead to identity theft and fraud for those affected.

For more information or assistance, affected individuals were advised to contact a confidential, toll-free inquiry line provided by FOMS or to refer to the Federal Trade Commission for tips on preventing identity theft[1].

Citations:

1. https://www.fairfaxoralsurgery.com/notice-of-data-incident/
2. https://www.dentaquest.com/en/members
3. https://www.hipaajournal.com/236000-fairfax-oral-and-maxillofacial-surgery-ransomware-attack/
4. https://www.dentaquest.com/en
5. https://www.masonllp.com/news_post/class-action-law-suit-against-fairfax-oral-and-maxillofacial-surgery/
6. https://www.hellotend.com
7. https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/fairfax-oral-maxillofacial-surgery-4766651/
8. https://www.cnn.com/sport
9. https://www.idstrong.com/sentinel/fairfax-oral-and-maxillofacial-surgery-gets-hacked/
10. https://www.lcmchealth.org/touro/
11. https://www.thelyonfirm.com/blog/fairfax-oral-and-maxillofacial-surgery-data-breach-investigation/
12. https://coda.ada.org
13. https://www.fairfaxoralsurgery.com/resources/hippa-notice-of-privacy-practices/
14. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tusk-partners-advises-fairfax-oral–maxillofacial-surgery-on-its-partnership-with-beacon-oral-specialists-a-portfolio-company-of-blue-sea-capital-301415854.html
15. https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/fairfax-oral-maxillofacial-surgery-data-breach-investigation/