JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The campaign of Alaska gubernatorial candidate Byron Mallott has sent a letter to more than 1,000 donors warning that a laptop containing credit card and check information was stolen.
The laptop, which was shut down and password protected at the time, was determined to be missing Wednesday night from the Democrat’s Anchorage campaign office, KTOO-radio (https://bit.ly/1keOGLn) reported.
The laptop had been in a restricted area at the back of the office, campaign adviser Bruce Botelho said.
“What we believe may have happened was the back door had not latched properly,” he said. “Someone had come in through the back door while volunteers were working in the front public area of the campaign and it was removed.”
Nothing else was taken. Anchorage police are investigating.
Copies of checks and credit cards numbers were on the computer. The images included contributors’ names and mailing addresses, phone numbers, bank account or credit card information, and security code numbers. It also contained donors’ occupations and employers.
The letter was sent Thursday to Mallott contributors recommending they monitor their bank and credit card accounts. State law requires immediate notification of lost or stolen personal information unless a criminal investigation requires a delay.
Botelho said password protection on the computer may prevent donor information from being seen.
“In that respect that lessens the risk, I think, to any of our donors,” he said. “But nevertheless, there still is a risk.”
He said the theft likely was random and not targeted at Mallott.
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Information from: KTOO-FM, https://www.ktoo.org
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