TDCI Warns of "Phishing" After Anthem Cyber Attack

NASHVILLE – In the wake of the cyber attack against health benefits company Anthem, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) regulators are urging consumers to use extreme caution when receiving emails purporting to be sent from Anthem.

Scammers are targeting current and former Anthem members by sending emails designed to capture personal information (a tactic known as “phishing”). These phishing emails are made to appear as if they are from Anthem and include a “click here” link for credit monitoring. However, these emails are NOT from Anthem and recipients are advised to NOT click on any links in the email nor should they open any email attachments. 

State insurance commissioners and law enforcement authorities are still assessing the fallout from the Jan. 29 data breach of Anthem that potentially exposed the personal information of more than 80 million people. The exact number of Tennessee residents who are affected by the breach has not yet been determined. Anthem has stated it will provide state regulators with a complete list of the affected individuals by state once this is available. Anthem subsidiary Amerigroup is a TennCare managed care company. In addition, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members who have sought medical care in Anthem states, including Georgia, may also be impacted.

“TDCI has been in communication with the company, its domestic regulator, and fellow state insurance regulators through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners,” said TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “We take very seriously the issue of cybersecurity, and we will continue to work with our partners to investigate this breach and ensure that any impacted Tennessee consumers have immediate access to remedial assistance.”

Anthem has told state insurance regulators they are diligently collecting the identities of all individuals whose information may have been involved with this security breach. State insurance commissioners, directors and superintendents are convening by weekly conference call for updates on Anthem’s progress in mitigating the situation and members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) have called for a multi-state examination of Anthem and its affiliates. TDCI expects to participate in the examination to ensure protection of consumers covered by Anthem.

Click here for more information about the Anthem breach and ways consumers can protect themselves from cyber attacks.