H&R Block Tax Service sends snail mail with SSN on the label

[mandy]

Snail mail sent by H&R Block to customers after it put their social security numbers on mailing labels:

"Recently we mailed you a free copy of our TaxCut software.
We believe that this complimentary software will meet your 2006 tax preparation
needs, based on our prior experience with you as an H&R Block client.
We hope that you will try TaxCut and find it to be a great solution for
filing your next tax return.

However, since we sent you this CD, we have become aware of a mail
production situation that has affected a small percentage of recipients,
including you. Due to human error in developing the mailing list, the
digits of your social security number (SSN) were used as part of your
mailing label's source code, a string of more than 40 numbers and
characters. Fortunately, these digits were embedded in the middle of
the string, and they were not formatted in any manner that would
identify them as an SSN.

Nevertheless, we sincerely apologize for this inadvertent error, which
is completely inconsistent with out strict policies to protect out
clients' privacy. Our internal policies limit the use of client SSNs
for purposes other than tax preparation. Furthermore, our internal
procedures require that mailing source codes are formulated in a manner
that excludes use of any sensitive or confidential information. Please
know that we have conducted a thorough internal review of this matter,
and are taking actions to ensure this does not re-occur.

full article: http://www.addict3d.org/index.php?page=viewarticle&type=security&ID=5760&title=H&R%20Block%20Tax%20Service%20sends%20mail%20with%20SSN%20on%20the%20label

[iron_chick]

Wow.

Now we know where old eBay employees go to get jobs.

[amy]

[quote author=iron_chick link=topic=2009.msg7029#msg7029 date=1136298443]
Wow.
Now we know where old eBay employees go to get jobs.
[/quote]

Either that or we know that eBay either gets its employees from H&R or the US Justice Dep't web site (it recently had social security numbers displayed for anyone to see).  Hey, Rob Chestnut of eBay T&S is a former Federal Attorney--whataya know, they do hire from there. 

Recent offline cases where personal info has been exposed or stolen: H&R, Sam's Club Gas, Marriott Hotels.