DATE: March 13, 2007 11:20:05 AM EDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

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Press Release

Date: March 13, 2007

Contact: Cmdr. Jeff Carter
(202) 372-4635

COAST GUARD OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO LOST MARINER FILES

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard announced today the Coast Guard Investigative Service opened an investigation into 50 missing merchant mariner files from a sealed box sent via FedEx.

A box sent by Coast Guard Regional Examination Center New Orleans was delivered Feb. 28 by FedEx to a Coast Guard processing center in Kearneysville, W.Va. Coast Guard personnel conducted an inventory based on the pre-packaged inventory provided by the staff in New Orleans after noting the box had come unsealed in transit. The inventory determined 50 files were missing. FedEx is cooperating in the Coast Guard investigation and is contiuing its search for the missing files.

“At this time we have no confirmation of misuse of mariner information resulting from the records loss, but we are urging mariners to be vigilant” said Tina Bassett, chief of the Coast Guard’s mariner services division. “The Coast Guard has notified individual mariners of their missing file, and requested they call us regarding any actual or suspected identity theft associated with their lost file.”

Since Social Security numbers and other personal information were in the files, mariners affected by this loss have been advised to monitor financial accounts for suspicious activity and review their credit reports. Every consumer is entitled by law to one free credit report annually from each major credit bureau – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The free credit report can be requested at www.AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.

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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.

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