The Texas Department of State Health Services is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft services for people whose personal information was found in the possession of a former DSHS employee without authorization.

The former employee, Selena Patino, had worked at the agency’s Mount Pleasant clinic until last fall and was arrested in January on fraud and credit card abuse charges. Prior to her arrest she worked at the Northeast Texas Public Health District.

DSHS has identified people whose information may have been accessed by the former employee and is notifying them by letter of the free services. However, there may be additional potential victims. People who worked with Patino or received services at the clinic and believe they were affected are urged to contact DSHS at 1-800-350-6029 to request the free credit monitoring and identity theft services. DSHS will provide the free services for one year to those affected.

People who think they may be victims of identity theft also should contact the credit bureaus for guidance and be on alert for any evidence of misuse of personal information. If people find evidence that their personal information has been misused, they should notify local law enforcement.

The credit bureaus can be contacted as follows:

• Equifax  P.O. Box 740241 www.fraudalerts.equifax.com Atlanta, GA  30374 Fraud hotline (toll-free): 1-877-478-7625

• Experian P.O. Box 2002 www.experian.com Allen, TX  75013 Fraud hotline (toll-free): 1-888-397-3742

• TransUnion Email to report suspected fraud at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. P.O. Box 6790 www.transunion.com Fullerton, CA  92834 Fraud hotline (toll-free): 1-800-680-7289