Chemeketa Community College and Carruth Compliance Consulting Data Incident

Chemeketa Community College and its partner, Carruth Compliance Consulting, formally reported a data breach to Maryland regulators on February 28, 2025. The incident exposed highly sensitive personal information, including Social Security Numbers and direct deposit details, for an unspecified number of individuals. Affected parties should meticulously review any official breach notifications and monitor their financial accounts for suspicious activity.

State: Maryland
Reported: February 28, 2025

What may have been exposed

Full Name
Social Security Number
Date of Birth
Wage and Compensation Information
Tax Return Information
Direct Deposit Account Details
Retirement Plan Account Information
Mailing Address

Chemeketa Community College, in conjunction with Carruth Compliance Consulting, formally disclosed a data security incident to the State of Maryland on February 28, 2025. While the precise nature of the breach remains unspecified in public filings, the entities, which manage extensive confidential records for educational and financial compliance, confirmed unauthorized access to sensitive personal data.

The compromised information includes Full Name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Wage and Compensation Information, Tax Return Information, Direct Deposit Account Details, Retirement Plan Account Information, and Mailing Address. The exposure of such a comprehensive set of identifiers can create significant risks for identity theft and financial fraud.

Individuals who receive notification of this incident from Chemeketa Community College or Carruth Compliance Consulting should take immediate steps to safeguard their personal and financial security. This includes activating any offered credit monitoring services, placing fraud alerts or security freezes on their credit reports with all three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), and regularly reviewing all financial statements and credit reports for unauthorized activity.

It is also advisable to be vigilant against phishing attempts via email, phone calls, or text messages that may attempt to leverage the exposed information. Do not click on suspicious links or provide personal details to unverified sources. This documentation serves as a public record of the reported incident, as filed with regulatory bodies, to assist those affected in understanding the scope of the breach and taking appropriate protective measures.

What to do if you were affected

Based on the categories of information reported in this filing, these steps can help limit the risk of identity theft and fraud.

Freeze your credit
Place a free credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A freeze blocks new accounts from being opened in your name and can be lifted anytime.
Guard against tax fraud
File your tax return as early as possible and consider requesting an IRS Identity Protection PIN so no one can file a fraudulent return in your name.
Watch your financial accounts
Review bank and card statements for unfamiliar activity and turn on transaction alerts. Report anything you don't recognize to your bank right away.
Stay alert to targeted scams
Be cautious of calls, texts, or emails that reference this breach. Legitimate organizations won't ask you to confirm sensitive details through an unsolicited message.
Keep your notification letter
Save the notice you received. It documents that your information was involved and is often needed to enroll in any credit monitoring offered or to join a related legal claim.

Source: Maryland Attorney General filing

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