PBI Data Breach

Frequently Asked Questions

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TRS was informed about a recent cybersecurity breach by PBI Research Services/Berwyn Group (“PBI”), which TRS and thousands of other organizations use to ensure accuracy in its payments to retirees and beneficiaries. PBI has reported the matter to TRS and federal law enforcement, and has worked to resolve the vulnerability, while also adding additional security measures.

Be sure to check this page routinely for updated information.

Specifically, PBI provides services to TRS to identify member deaths. These services ensure that proper payments are made to retirees and beneficiaries and prevent instances of overpayments or other errors. PBI also validates information on inactive members who may soon be eligible for benefits.

Recipients of TRS benefit payments from March 1, 2023 through May 26, 2023 were included in the breach of data. This includes TRS retirees and survivors who have received retirement benefits during this period. Additionally, information of some TRS retirees’ beneficiaries may have been included.

Personal information that was affected by the breach includes: First and Last Names; Dates of Birth; Addresses; TRS ID’s and Social Security Numbers. Every individual did not have all of these identifiers compromised.

Only recipients of TRS benefit payments from March 1, 2023 through May 26, 2023 and certain beneficiaries were affected. If you have been affected by this data breach, you will receive a letter in the mail from PBI with a specific ID number assigned to you. PBI has enlisted the services of Kroll, who will be setting up a call center and website for affected members. We will update this web page with that call center number and website as soon as it is available to us.

The web portal PBI, set up through the company Kroll, may provide you with a quicker customer service experience than by phone. The Kroll call center will be available until January 4, 2024.

In early fall, PBI mailed out letters to all retirees and beneficiaries who may have been impacted by their recent data breach. PBI has set up a call center and web portal through Kroll in order to assist individuals who were affected. The phone number, your PBI/Kroll account ID, and the website information are contained within the PBI letter and will be needed to set up the credit monitoring services. The period to set up these services will run through December 31, 2023.

Yes. Retirees are able to view and update beneficiary contact information through their online account. If you have not set up an online account, please do so as you will receive the most updated information directly.

No, this data breach has not affected TRS’ process or information systems. We will continue to provide monthly benefit payments as usual without interruption.

TRS continuously works to enhance the security of its members’ benefits. TRS will also continue to monitor systems to ensure no further impacts have been made. Our employees are aware of the incident and are taking extra steps to verify the identity of members, retirees, and beneficiaries’ accounts.

PBI is offering all impacted members complimentary credit monitoring and identity restoration services. A letter detailing these services will be mailed to impacted retirees or their survivors with instructions on how to enroll.

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Credit Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348		 Experian Credit Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013		 TransUnion Credit Freeze
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094