Millions of UAW retirees health benefits stolen due to third-party security breach in Metro Detroit

Free credit monitoring is now being offered for two years

A Help Me Hank alert has been issued over a massive security breach that could impact millions of UAW retirees.

NationsBenefits let people enrolled in the plan know about the breach recently, but it happened back in January.

“I don’t get it,” said Brooks Vickers. “Why do they wait so long to tell us about it?”

Vickers, a UAW Ford retiree, got the news in a letter Thursday (May 4) with information regarding the massive hack that first happened months ago.

The UAW Ford retiree grew concerned that all his information was just out there.

“Somehow, third-party security wasn’t that good, and the next thing I know, a bunch of retirees got a letter, and it happened in January, and I’m just now finding out about it,” Vickers said.

The hack of NationsBenefits holdings happened in January, and now we are learning what happened.

A third-party vendor named Fortra the company was targeted in a high-tech cyber attack, and as a result, many people’s personal information was compromised and leaked.

The compromised information included:

  • People’s first and last names
  • Gender
  • Health plan ID numbers
  • Social security numbers
  • Home addresses
  • Date of birth
  • Medicare numbers

The company has offered protection for two years and has worked to contact those impacted.

“Finances, bank accounts,” Vickers said. “What’s the next thing they’re going to get ahold of? That’s my biggest fear, but then you got all my accounts and social security. How much is that going to be affected by it?”

If you’re concerned, you can contact NationsBenefits directly by clicking here if you haven’t heard anything.

You can also take advantage of the free credit monitoring and lock down your own credit by contacting the Better Business Bureau. The BBB says if you’re notified about a hack, take it seriously.

Natonsbenefits has been working to contact all those impacted.

Free credit monitoring is now being offered for two years.


About the Authors:

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.

Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.