Financial aid files stolen, UNCC says

Student employee accused of theft, using information for fraud

A UNC-Charlotte student employee is accused of stealing the personal financial information of more than 140 people from the Office of Student Financial Aid, then obtaining credit cards using that information, according to the university.

No charges have been filed yet, university officials said.

UNCC sent certified letters Friday to the 148 people whose information is believed to have been taken.

The theft was uncovered after campus police investigated several reports of fraudulent credit-card activity, according to university officials.

The investigation led to the discovery that a student employee had stolen several files that contained the financial records. No electronically stored information was involved in the theft.

The letter advised the potential victims to place a fraud alert on their credit files. Such an alert tells creditors to contact the individual before opening new accounts or making changes to existing accounts.

The student employee suspected in the theft is cooperating with law enforcement officials, university officials said. It is believed that all of the stolen files have been accounted for and that the risk of additional fraudulent activity is low.

The university has taken precautionary measures to protect confidential information, but university officials would not discuss the details of those measures. They also declined to discuss what type of screening process the university uses for student employees, particularly those who handle sensitive material.

"UNC Charlotte takes this matter very seriously and will continue to investigate it in conjunction with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's office," David Dunn, vice chancellor for university relations and community affairs, said Monday in a statement.