Heart South Cardiovascular Group, PC (“Heart South”) is providing notice regarding a recent cybersecurity incident. Heart South wants to provide impacted individuals with details about the incident and let individuals know that it continues to take significant measures to protect their information.
On or about November 11, 2025, Heart South learned that an unauthorized party claimed to possess Heart South data. Upon learning of the issue, Heart South immediately commenced a prompt and thorough forensic investigation with external cybersecurity professionals experienced in handling these types of incidents. The investigation did not find evidence of unauthorized network access or data theft, but Heart South discovered that the bad actor recently posted a limited amount of Heart South data on the dark web. Out of an abundance of caution, Heart South is notifying all Heart South patients whose protected health information was stored in the locations from which the posted data resided in our network. For impacted individuals, this would include full names in combination with one or more of the following to the extent existing in our records: Social Security numbers, dates of birth, treatments, procedures, diagnoses, medications, and health insurance information. Heart South has not been able to confirm if any specific individual’s information was impacted or not. Potentially impacted individuals were identified on February 12, 2026.
Heart South has no evidence that any personal information has been or will be used for identity theft as direct result of this incident. However, commencing on April –, 2026, Heart South notified impacted individuals for whom valid mailing address records were available and provided them with best practices to protect their information and complimentary credit monitoring.
Out of an abundance of caution, potentially impacted individuals are encouraged to take steps to protect themselves, such as placing a fraud alert/security freeze on their credit files, obtaining free credit reports, and remaining vigilant in reviewing financial account statements and credit reports for fraudulent or irregular activity on a regular basis.
Heart South is committed to maintaining the privacy of personal information in its possession and has taken many precautions to safeguard it. Heart South continually evaluates and modifies its practices to enhance the security and privacy of the personal information it maintains.
Heart South has also established a call center to address questions from impacted individuals. Representatives are available at [CALL CENTER NUMBER]. This response line is staffed with professionals familiar with this incident and knowledgeable on what you can do to protect against potential misuse of your information. The response line is available [CALL CENTER HOURS].
– OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION –
1. Obtain and Monitor Your Credit Report
Under federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major nationwide credit reporting companies. You can obtain a free copy of your credit report by calling 1-877-322-8228, visiting www.annualcreditreport.com, or by completing an Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348. You can access the request form at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action. Alternatively, you can elect to purchase a copy of your credit report by contacting one of the three national credit reporting agencies. The three nationwide credit reporting agencies’ contact information are provided below.
| Equifax P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts/ (800) 525-6285 |
Experian P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 https://www.experian.com/fraud/center.html (888) 397-3742 |
TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016-2000 https://www.transunion.com/fraud-alerts (800) 680-7289 |
Once you receive your credit reports, review them for discrepancies. Identify any accounts you did not open or inquiries from creditors that you did not authorize. Verify all information is correct. If you have questions or notice incorrect information, contact the credit reporting company.
2. Placing a Fraud Alert on Your Credit File.
You can place an initial 1-year “fraud alert” on your credit files, at no charge. An initial fraud alert is free and will stay on your credit file for at least twelve months. The alert informs creditors of possible fraudulent activity within your report and requests that the creditor contact you before establishing any accounts in your name. To place a fraud alert, call any one of the three major credit bureaus at the numbers listed below. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, they will notify the others. Additional information is available at https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts/.
| Equifax P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts/ (800) 525-6285 |
Experian P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 https://www.experian.com/fraud/center.html (888) 397-3742 |
TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016-2000 https://www.transunion.com/fraud-alerts (800) 680-7289 |
3. Placing a Security Freeze on Your Credit File.
Following is general information about how to request a security freeze from the three credit reporting agencies at no charge. While we believe this information is accurate, you should contact each agency for the most accurate and up-to-date information. A security freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing any information from a consumer’s credit report without written authorization. However, please be aware that placing a security freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, credit, mortgages, employment, housing, or other services. There might be additional information required, and as such, to find out more information, please contact the three nationwide credit reporting agencies (contact information provided below). You may place a security freeze on your credit report by contacting all three nationwide credit reporting companies at the numbers below and following the stated directions or by sending a request in writing, by mail, to all three credit reporting companies:
| Equifax Security Freeze P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/ (888)-298-0045 |
Experian Security Freeze P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 http://experian.com/freeze (888) 397-3742 |
TransUnion Security Freeze P.O. Box 160 Woodlyn, PA 19094 https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze (888) 909-8872 |
In order to place the security freeze, you will need to supply your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and other personal information. After receiving your freeze request, each credit reporting company will send you a confirmation letter containing a unique PIN (personal identification number) or password. Keep the PIN or password in a safe place. You will need it if you choose to lift the freeze.
If your personal information has been used to file a false tax return, to open an account or to attempt to open an account in your name or to commit fraud or other crimes against you, you may file a police report in the City in which you currently reside.
4. Protecting Your Medical Information.
The following practices can provide additional safeguards to protect against medical identity theft.
- Only share your health insurance cards with your health care providers and other family members who are covered under your insurance plan or who help you with your medical care.
- Review your “explanation of benefits statement” which you receive from your health insurance company. Follow up with your insurance company or care provider for any items you do not recognize. If necessary, contact the care provider on the explanation of benefits statement and ask for copies of medical records from the date of the potential access (noted above) to current date.
- Ask your insurance company for a current year-to-date report of all services paid for you as a beneficiary. Follow up with your insurance company or the care provider for any items you do not recognize.
5. Additional Helpful Resources.
Even if you do not find any suspicious activity on your initial credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you check your credit reports periodically. Checking your credit report periodically can help you spot problems and address them quickly.
If you find suspicious activity on your credit reports or have reason to believe your information is being misused, call your local law enforcement agency and file a police report. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report, as many creditors will want the information it contains to absolve you of the fraudulent debts. You may also file a complaint with the FTC by contacting them on the web at www.ftc.gov/idtheft, by phone at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338), or by mail at Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Your complaint will be added to the FTC’s Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, where it will be accessible to law enforcement for their investigations. In addition, you may obtain information from the FTC about fraud alerts and security freezes.
Iowa Residents: You may contact law enforcement or the Iowa Attorney General’s Office to report suspected incidents of identity Theft: Office of the Attorney General of Iowa, Consumer Protection Division, Hoover State Office Building, 1305 East Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50319, www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov, Telephone: 515-281-5164.
Massachusetts Residents: Under Massachusetts law, you have the right to obtain a police report in regard to this incident. If you are the victim of identity theft, you also have the right to file a police report and obtain a copy of it.
New Mexico residents: You have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in your credit file has been used against you, the right to know what is in your credit file, the right to ask for your credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to your file is limited; you must give your consent for credit. In addition, you have the right to obtain a security freeze (as explained above) or submit a declaration of removal. You have a right to bring a civil action against a consumer reporting agency that violates your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting and Identity Security Act. For more information about the FCRA, please visit www.consumer.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf or www.ftc.gov.
New York Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the New York Attorney General’s Office: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds-bureau/identity-theft; Telephone: 800-771-7755.
North Carolina Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office: Office of the Attorney General of North Carolina, Consumer Protection Division, 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, www.ncdoj.gov, Telephone: 877-566-7226 (Toll-free within North Carolina), 919-716-6000.
Oregon Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the Oregon Attorney General’s Office: Oregon Department of Justice, 1162 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-4096, www.doj.state.or.us, Telephone: 877-877-9392.
Washington D.C. Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, 400 6th Street NW, Washington D.C. 20001, oag.dc.gov/consumer-protection, Telephone: 202-442-9828.