The Vancouver Housing Authority has learned its website was compromised.
The website, www.vhausa.com, included a link where applicants for Section 8 housing allowances were asked to provide a personal credit card number to cover “the $20-per-month cost of a credit check.” However, the link was a fraudulent attempt to secure personal credit card information and is not a requirement of the housing authority, officials said.
The website has been corrected and appropriate law enforcement agencies have been informed of the breach.
None of the personal information for Section 8 or Public Housing applicants or clients in the housing authority data servers has been compromised. Only those who followed the false link on the website and entered credit card information are affected, according to the housing authority.
The Vancouver Housing Authority is asking anyone who provided credit card information through the link to contact the housing authority at 360-993-9563. The housing authority is also recommending those affected contact their credit card provider and file a consumer complaint with the Washington State Attorney General’s office, www.atg.wa.gov.
The agency is also working with its Internet provider to increase website security.
