Region of Queens Municipality Impacted by Province of Nova Scotia’s Cybersecurity Breach

June 15, 2023: On May 29 and 30, 2023, a cybersecurity breach impacted data files in the MOVEIt file transfer system used by the government of Nova Scotia and other organizations to transfer large files. Region of Queens Municipality has been identified as one of the organizations with files impacted. Approximately 17,500 municipal tax account files and water utility files were impacted by the breach.

Region of Queens Municipality has been working with the province of Nova Scotia, and have reviewed and examined the files. The data involved in the breach were tax account information and those on the municipal water utility system, including account numbers, names, addresses, payment amounts, and account balance. No personal, sensitive information, or financial information was saved in the files, and therefore not exposed in the breach. Duplication of names make it challenging to get exact number of people, businesses and organizations impacted.

The public is urged to be aware of scammers who may use information such as this to their advantage. Region of Queens Municipality does not call property owners or water utility customers requesting payment information for accounts. Accounts may be paid by credit card by calling 902-354-3453, or online https://www.regionofqueens.com/municipal-services/finance/bill-payment-options or in person at the Administration Building, 249 White Point Road, Liverpool. Residents are urged to watch their financial transactions and notify their bank if anything is unexpected.

Although phone numbers were not included in Region of Queens files, people are reminded not to share personal information on the phone, such as financial information, social insurance numbers, birth dates, etc.

If the provincial government notifies you about your information being impacted in the breach, they will not ask for your health card, social insurance number, banking information, other personal information, or money. Sometimes there are phishing or scam attempts that try to use a privacy breach to steal additional information. Be safe and don’t give anyone your personal information if asked.

As more information is available, check the website the province has set up: https://novascotia.ca/privacy-breach/ .