Pipefitters Local 537 has fallen sufferer to a cyberattack, as thieves lately stole greater than $6 million from the Dorchester union’s well being fund.
The feds are investigating the cybercrime, and legislation enforcement is “optimistic” that they’ll have the ability to return the overwhelming majority of the $6.4 million in stolen funds, in response to Daniel O’Brien, enterprise supervisor/monetary secretary-treasurer of Pipefitters Local 537.
O’Brien reassured union members that this theft won’t affect their advantages “in any way,” and there’s no proof that any member info was stolen or compromised.
“This is very unfortunate news; but please be assured that nothing about your benefits with Local 537 has changed and our Health Fund remains well-funded,” O’Brien wrote in an replace to union members.
“… It has been reiterated throughout the investigation to remind our membership to be mindful of what we put out online and on social media, as these are easy places for cybercriminals to gain information and locate potential targets,” he added.
Three weeks in the past, the Fund Office realized that it had been the sufferer of a social engineering cyberattack, ensuing within the theft of $6.4 million from the well being fund.
The Fund Office instantly contacted authorized counsel, filed a cybercrime report with the FBI, filed a report with the Boston Police, contacted the Fund’s cybersecurity supplier to take emergency measures, and contacted the Fund’s cyber insurance coverage firm.
The Board of Trustees retained a cybersecurity forensic investigator instantly, who started investigating the breach along with the investigations of the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service. The Department of Labor reached out to the Fund’s lawyer concerning the theft. The Board of Trustees has filed claims on the funds’ cyber insurance coverage insurance policies.
“Federal law enforcement cannot give us much information at this time, due to the ongoing criminal investigation,” O’Brien wrote. “However, they are optimistic that most of the stolen funds will be returned to the Health Fund. The Fund’s private investigators and cybersecurity company have also completed their review of the Fund Office’s email server and concluded that there was no breach or hack.”
The Trustees have organized for superior cybersecurity coaching for all staff. Also, strict Fund wiring coverage modifications have been applied, now requiring at the very least two Fund workers members to verify wire directions and receipt of funds inside 24 hours through a cellphone name to a trusted quantity.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”