Charleston Area Medical Center Data Breach Class Action Investigation

At Console & Associates, our data breach lawyers are closely examining the recent Charleston Area Medical Center data breach. This data breach was disclosed following a cyber security incident at Charleston Area Medical Center, which exposed sensitive personal identifiable information.

What Happened?

A recent report from the Massachusetts Attorney General's office states that Charleston Area Medical Center experienced a phishing attack targeting employee email accounts. On October 2, 2024, CAMC Health detected suspicious activity and immediately launched an investigation with cybersecurity experts.

The investigation revealed that an unauthorized party gained access to one employee's email inbox between October 2 and October 3, 2024. The compromised account contained emails and attachments with confidential patient information including:

• names,
• birth dates,
• email addresses,
• phone numbers,
• Social Security numbers,
• driver's license numbers,
• health information,
• and health insurance information

Charleston Area Medical Center has posted additional information about the incident on their website. Data breach letters were sent out by Charleston Area Medical Center on February 14, 2025, informing affected individuals about the nature of the incident and specific data that was compromised in their case.

Steps To Take If You Were Affected By A Data Breach

1. Monitor all accounts and credit reports closely
   1. Set up alerts for suspicious activity
   2. Review all financial statements thoroughly
   3. Request free credit reports and examine them for unauthorized entries
      
      
2. Consider freezing your credit
   1. Contact all three major credit bureaus to place a freeze
   2. Understand this prevents new accounts from being opened in your name
   3. Remember to temporarily lift the freeze when applying for legitimate credit
      
      
3. Look out for phishing attempts using information from the Charleston Area Medical Center data breach
   1. Be wary of unexpected emails or messages claiming to be from Charleston Area Medical Center
   2. Don't click on suspicious links or download unexpected attachments
   3. Verify all communications through official channels
      
      
4. Change passwords for affected accounts
   1. Create strong, unique passwords for each account
   2. Use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters
   3. Consider using a password manager for better security
      
      
5. Enable two-factor authentication where possible
   1. Add this extra layer of security to all important accounts
   2. Use authenticator apps rather than SMS when available
   3. Keep backup codes in a secure location

For more detailed guidance, explore our “Guide for Victims of a Data Breach” to better understand measures you can take to protect yourself after a data breach.

Charleston Area Medical Center Overview

Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) is a healthcare network based in Charleston, West Virginia, consisting of four hospitals: CAMC General Hospital, CAMC Memorial Hospital, CAMC Women and Children's Hospital, and CAMC Teays Valley Hospital. The system includes outpatient facilities and specialty clinics across West Virginia.

Charleston Area Medical Center provides medical services in cardiac care, cancer treatment, orthopedics, neurology, and Level I trauma care. The organization's facilities include diagnostic imaging centers and laboratories. With 8,000 employees across medical, nursing, and support roles, Charleston Area Medical Center generates $587 million in annual revenue from its healthcare operations.

Charleston Area Medical Center Data Breach Victims Have Rights - Don’t Wait to Act

How do you know that you were affected by the Charleston Area Medical Center data breach? Usually victims receive a NOTICE OF DATA BREACH in the mail, but the impact of a breach can be felt long before notices are sent to those affected. This can be in the form of fraudulent financial activity and other forms of identity theft.

If you believe you were affected, we encourage you to reach out to our data breach law firm for legal assistance through a no-cost consultation about your situation. We will review your eligibility to file a data breach class action lawsuit and discuss your legal rights and any compensation that may be available to you.

Complete our confidential contact form below and a member of our legal team will be in touch.