CALL CENTER SCRIPT & FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Quorum Insurance Holdings Corp. Data Security Incident
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL PREPARED AT THE DIRECTION OF COUNSEL ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED / ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
This document is privileged and confidential and has been prepared at the direction of counsel in connection with the provision of legal advice. This document is protected by the attorney-client privilege, the work product doctrine, and any other applicable protections. This document shall not be distributed beyond authorized Clearfield Notification Services LLC personnel without the prior written consent of Calderwood & Harkness LLP. Unauthorized disclosure, copying, or distribution of this document, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
Prepared by:
Calderwood & Harkness LLP 1700 K Street NW, Suite 900 Washington, D.C. 20006
Prepared for:
Clearfield Notification Services LLC 4500 Rockside Road, Suite 210 Independence, OH 44131
Attn: Jerome Tillman, Account Manager
Date: August 14, 2023
Calderwood & Harkness Matter No.: 1025-00006
Authors: Alan Burke, Lead Associate, and Sara Hendricks, Working Associate, Privacy & Data Security Practice Group
Call Center Operations Window: August 18, 2023 through approximately November 10, 2023 (12-week window, commencing with first consumer notification mailing date)
NOTICE: This document is subject to attorney-client privilege and work product protection. It has been prepared at the direction of Calderwood & Harkness LLP in connection with the provision of legal advice to Quorum Insurance Holdings Corp. regarding the data security incident described herein. This document is provided to Clearfield Notification Services LLC solely for the purpose of enabling Clearfield personnel to respond to inbound consumer inquiries in connection with notification services. This document may not be disclosed, distributed, reproduced, or transmitted to any person or entity not authorized by Calderwood & Harkness LLP without prior written consent. Any unauthorized disclosure may result in a waiver of applicable privileges and protections, and Calderwood & Harkness LLP reserves all rights and remedies in connection therewith.
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Section 1: General Instructions for Call Center Agents
1.1 Purpose and Scope
This script and frequently asked questions guide (collectively, this "Script") is provided to Clearfield Notification Services LLC ("Clearfield") call center agents who are handling inbound telephone calls from individuals who have received a data breach notification letter from Quorum Insurance Holdings Corp. ("Quorum"). The purpose of this Script is to ensure that all agents provide consistent, accurate, and legally appropriate responses to callers, and that all communications with affected individuals are handled in a manner that is responsive to caller concerns while protecting the interests of Quorum and its counsel.
All calls received on the dedicated toll-free incident response line relate to a data security incident involving Quorum's third-party claims-processing vendor, Palomar Data Solutions, Inc. ("Palomar"). It is critical that agents understand that the incident originated in systems maintained by Palomar, not in Quorum's own internal systems. However, as described further in this Script, agents must not identify Palomar by name to callers. All references to Palomar during calls should be limited to "a third-party service provider" or "a vendor that provides claims processing services."
Agents must follow this Script and the approved responses contained herein at all times. Agents are not permitted to deviate from the scripted language, speculate about the incident or its causes, provide legal advice to callers, or offer personal opinions or commentary about Quorum, Palomar, or any other party. If a caller asks a question that is not addressed in this Script, the agent must escalate the call in accordance with the escalation protocol set forth in Section 1.5 below.
Approximately 318,247 notification letters are being mailed to affected individuals in rolling batches commencing August 18, 2023 and continuing through approximately September 15, 2023. The letters are being sent to individuals residing in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Call volume is expected to peak in the first three to four weeks following each mailing wave. Agents should be prepared for elevated call volumes during these periods and should manage their time accordingly while ensuring that each caller receives thorough, empathetic, and complete assistance.
1.2 Caller Verification Protocol
Before providing any account-specific information to a caller — including information about the types of personal data that may have been involved, the caller's enrollment status, or any activation codes — agents must verify the caller's identity using the following three-step verification process.
Verification requires the caller to provide each of the following:
(a) The caller's full name, as it appears on the notification letter the caller received;
(b) The unique PIN/reference number printed on the notification letter (this is a unique alphanumeric code assigned to each affected individual); and
(c) The last four digits of the caller's Social Security number or, alternatively, the caller's date of birth.
All three elements must be successfully verified against the information contained in the Clearfield lookup system before the agent may proceed with providing account-specific information or assisting with credit monitoring enrollment.
If a caller is unable to provide the required verification information, the agent should politely explain that verification is required for security purposes and is designed to protect the caller's personal information. In such cases, the agent should provide the caller with the following mailing address and advise the caller that they may write in for assistance:
Quorum Insurance Holdings Corp. c/o Clearfield Notification Services LLC P.O. Box 5100 Independence, OH 44131-5100
Important: Agents must not read back or confirm any specific personal information to the caller beyond what the caller has already provided. For example, if a caller provides their name but cannot provide their reference number, the agent must not confirm whether that name appears in the system. This protocol is essential to prevent social engineering and to protect the personal information of affected individuals.
1.3 Tone and Demeanor Guidelines
The manner in which agents interact with callers is critically important. Many callers will be anxious, confused, or frustrated upon learning that their personal information may have been compromised. Agents should approach every call with the following principles in mind:
• Empathy: Demonstrate genuine empathy and understanding for the caller's situation. Acknowledge the caller's concern and validate their feelings. Phrases such as "I understand your concern" and "I appreciate you taking the time to call about this" are appropriate and encouraged.
• Calm and Patient: Maintain a calm, even, and patient tone throughout every call, including calls with upset or agitated callers. Do not rush callers, and allow them time to ask questions and express their concerns.
• Professional: Maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Use courteous language and avoid colloquialisms, slang, or casual speech that may be perceived as dismissive or unprofessional.
• Personalized: Use the caller's name when appropriate during the conversation. This conveys respect and attentiveness.
• Neutral: Do not express personal opinions about the incident, Quorum, Palomar Data Solutions, or any other party involved in the incident. Agents are not spokespersons for Quorum and should not characterize the incident in terms that go beyond the approved language set forth in this Script.
• No Legal Commentary: Do not discuss litigation, regulatory proceedings, potential legal claims, or any other legal matters. Do not speculate about the caller's legal rights or remedies. If a caller asks a legal question, provide the approved response from the FAQ section of this Script and, if necessary, escalate the call.
• No Technical Details: Do not discuss details about the threat actor, attack methodology, or the specific vulnerability exploited in the incident (CVE-2023-0669). Do not reference the GoAnywhere MFT platform or any other specific technology. If a caller asks technical questions about the breach, provide the approved general response and escalate if the caller presses for additional information.
1.4 Call Documentation Requirements
Accurate and thorough call documentation is essential for both operational and legal purposes. Agents must log every inbound call in the Clearfield CRM system. Each call log entry must include the following information:
(a) Date and time of the call;
(b) Caller's full name;
(c) Caller's unique reference number (if verified);
(d) Nature of the caller's inquiry (e.g., general incident questions, credit monitoring enrollment, complaint, media inquiry, legal inquiry, etc.);
(e) Resolution provided (e.g., enrolled in credit monitoring, provided protective steps, escalated to Tier 2, escalated to Tier 3, etc.);
(f) Any escalation taken, including the tier to which the call was escalated and the reason for escalation; and
(g) Call duration.
In addition, agents must make a specific notation in the CRM system if any of the following occur during the call:
• The caller references media reports or news articles about the incident;
• The caller states that they have retained legal counsel or are represented by an attorney;
• The caller references or identifies a specific law firm;
• The caller mentions a regulatory agency, state attorney general's office, or any government entity;
• The caller states that they intend to file a lawsuit or have already filed a lawsuit; or
• The caller identifies themselves as a member of the media.
Any call that involves one or more of the above circumstances must be flagged for escalation in the CRM system and escalated in accordance with the escalation protocol set forth in Section 1.5 below.
1.5 Escalation Protocol
Clearfield's incident response call center operates on a three-tier escalation model. Agents should familiarize themselves with each tier and the circumstances that warrant escalation. Proper and timely escalation is critical to ensuring that sensitive inquiries are handled by personnel with the appropriate authority and expertise.
Tier 1 — Standard Agents
Tier 1 agents handle all standard inbound inquiries using the scripted responses and FAQ answers contained in this document. Tier 1 agents are authorized to provide incident summary information, describe the types of data involved (based on the caller's notification letter code), explain protective steps, and assist callers with enrollment in the complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection program. The vast majority of calls should be fully resolved at Tier 1.
Tier 2 — Supervisor Escalation
Calls must be escalated to a Tier 2 supervisor under any of the following circumstances:
• The caller requests to speak with a supervisor;
• The caller is upset, agitated, threatening, or abusive;
• The caller asks questions that are not covered by this Script or FAQ;
• The caller identifies themselves as a member of the media; or
• The Tier 1 agent is otherwise uncertain how to respond to the caller's inquiry.
When escalating to Tier 2, the agent should place the caller on a brief hold, contact the Tier 2 supervisor via the Clearfield internal supervisor line, provide a summary of the caller's inquiry and the reason for escalation, and transfer the call. Agents should avoid leaving callers on hold for extended periods and should check back with the caller periodically to advise them that their call is being transferred.
Tier 3 — Calderwood & Harkness Legal Escalation
Calls must be escalated immediately to Tier 3 (Calderwood & Harkness LLP) under any of the following circumstances:
• The caller identifies themselves as an attorney representing one or more affected individuals;
• The caller states that they are filing, intend to file, or have already filed a lawsuit against Quorum, Palomar, or any other party in connection with the incident;
• The caller identifies themselves as a government official, regulator, representative of a state attorney general's office, or representative of any other government agency; or
• The caller requests specific information about the forensic investigation, the vendor relationship, the contractual terms between Quorum and Palomar, or indemnification arrangements.
Tier 3 escalations should be routed through the Tier 2 supervisor, who will contact the designated Tier 3 point of contact:
Alan Burke, Lead Associate Calderwood & Harkness LLP Privacy & Data Security Practice Group
Dedicated incident response phone line and email address to be provided separately to Clearfield supervisors by Calderwood & Harkness LLP prior to the August 18, 2023 call center launch date.
Media Inquiries. If a caller identifies themselves as a reporter, journalist, or member of the media, the agent must not provide any comment, statement, or information whatsoever. The agent should politely advise the caller that media inquiries are handled by a separate communications team and immediately transfer the call to a Tier 2 supervisor. The Tier 2 supervisor will route the call to:
BrightPath Consulting Group Inc. Meredith Ashford, Managing Director Designated media response line to be provided separately to Clearfield supervisors.
Under no circumstances should any agent or supervisor provide any statement, comment, or response to media inquiries.
Section 2: Inbound Call Script — Standard Call Flow
This section provides the standard call flow script that agents should follow for each inbound call. The script is organized sequentially, beginning with the greeting and ending with the call closing. Agents should follow this flow naturally, adapting as needed based on the caller's specific questions and concerns, while always staying within the bounds of the approved language.
2.1 Greeting
Upon answering an inbound call, agents should use the following greeting:
"Thank you for calling the Quorum Insurance Holdings data security incident response line. My name is [Agent Name]. How may I assist you today?"
Allow the caller to state the purpose of their call. In the vast majority of cases, the caller will indicate that they received a notification letter in the mail and have questions about the incident or the credit monitoring services being offered.
If the caller indicates that they are calling about the notification letter, proceed to the caller verification protocol described in Section 1.2 before providing any account-specific information. The agent may say:
"I'd be happy to help you with that. For security purposes, I'll need to verify your identity before we get started. Could you please provide me with your full name as it appears on the letter you received?"
After collecting the caller's full name, proceed to request the unique PIN/reference number and the last four digits of the caller's Social Security number or date of birth. Once all three elements have been verified, proceed to address the caller's questions.
2.2 Incident Summary Statement (Approved Language)
When a caller asks "What happened?" or otherwise requests information about the data security incident, agents should use the following approved incident summary language:
"Quorum Insurance Holdings Corp. recently learned that one of its third-party service providers experienced a data security incident that may have involved some of your personal information. The incident involved unauthorized access to certain systems maintained by the service provider. Quorum is notifying you as a precaution and is offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services."
If the caller asks for additional details, agents may provide the following supplemental information, using the approved language below:
• The incident involved a third-party vendor's systems, not Quorum's own internal systems.
• The unauthorized access occurred between approximately mid-March and mid-April 2023.
• Quorum was notified by the vendor and promptly launched an investigation with the assistance of leading cybersecurity experts.
• Applicable law enforcement authorities and regulators have been notified.
Critical Reminders:
• Do NOT name Palomar Data Solutions, Inc. to callers. Refer only to "a third-party service provider" or "a vendor that provides claims processing services."
• Do NOT discuss the specific vulnerability (CVE-2023-0669), the GoAnywhere MFT file transfer appliance, or any technical details of the attack vector or methodology.
• Do NOT identify the forensic investigation firm (Graystone Forensics LLC) by name.
• Do NOT speculate about the identity or motives of the threat actor.
2.3 Types of Information Involved
When a caller asks what types of personal information may have been involved in the incident, agents must refer to the caller's notification letter code and the Clearfield lookup system to determine which category of affected data applies to that individual. Three categories exist, and the appropriate response depends on the code associated with the caller's record.
General PII Callers (Majority of Affected Individuals)
For callers whose notification letter code indicates "PII" — representing the majority of the approximately 318,247 affected individuals — agents should use the following language:
"Based on our investigation, the information that may have been involved includes your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and/or driver's license number."
Financial Data Subset Callers (84,619 Individuals)
For callers whose notification letter code indicates "FIN" — representing approximately 84,619 individuals whose financial account information may also have been involved — agents should use the following language:
"In addition to the information I just described, our investigation indicates that your bank account number and/or payment card information may also have been involved."
PHI Subset Callers (41,203 Individuals)
For callers whose notification letter code indicates "PHI" — representing approximately 41,203 individuals whose protected health information may also have been involved — agents should use the following language:
"In addition to personal identifying information, our investigation indicates that certain health-related information associated with an insurance claim may also have been involved. This could include information such as health conditions, diagnosis codes, or treatment information related to a workers' compensation or health-related claim."
Agents must consult the lookup system for each verified caller to determine the specific data types that may have been affected. Do not guess or assume which category applies. If the lookup system does not return a clear result, escalate to a Tier 2 supervisor.
2.4 Steps Quorum Is Taking
When a caller asks what Quorum is doing in response to the incident, agents should use the following approved language:
"Quorum takes the security of your information very seriously. Upon learning of this incident, Quorum took immediate steps to investigate and respond. This included:
— Engaging a leading cybersecurity forensics firm to conduct a thorough investigation; — Notifying applicable law enforcement and regulatory authorities; — Working with the service provider to address the cause of the incident and enhance security measures; and — Notifying individuals whose information may have been involved.
As an added precaution, Quorum is offering you 24 months of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services at no cost to you."
This language should be delivered in a reassuring and confident tone that conveys that Quorum has taken the situation seriously and has acted responsibly.
2.5 Credit Monitoring Enrollment Instructions
Quorum is offering all affected individuals 24 months of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through the Clearfield Notification Services LLC identity protection program. Agents should encourage all callers to enroll in these services.
Enrollment Methods. There are two methods by which affected individuals may enroll:
(a) Online enrollment: Callers may enroll online by visiting the dedicated enrollment URL printed on their notification letter. To enroll online, the caller will need the unique activation code printed on their letter.
(b) Phone enrollment (preferred for callers who need assistance): Agents may assist callers with enrollment during the call by walking the caller through the enrollment process on-screen. To complete phone enrollment, the agent will need to collect the caller's name, mailing address, email address (if available), and the activation code from the caller's notification letter. Upon successful enrollment, the agent should confirm enrollment with the caller and provide a confirmation number.
Enrollment Deadline. Callers should be advised that the enrollment code printed on their notification letter has an activation deadline. The specific deadline varies by state and is printed on the caller's letter. In general, activation codes must be used within 90 days of the date of the notification letter. Agents should encourage callers to enroll as soon as possible to take full advantage of the complimentary services.
Services Included. The complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services include the following:
• Three-bureau credit monitoring (Harborview Enterprises, Penrose Group, and Penmark Enterprises);
• Identity theft detection alerts;
• Dark web monitoring;
• Identity theft insurance up to applicable policy limits; and
• Access to a dedicated fraud resolution specialist.
Duration. The complimentary services are provided for a period of 24 months from the date of enrollment. At the conclusion of the 24-month period, enrollees will have the option to continue services at their own expense or discontinue the service.
Planning Note. For internal planning purposes, the estimated enrollment take-rate is approximately 40% of the 318,247 affected individuals, which corresponds to approximately 127,299 enrollees. Agents should encourage enrollment during each call, as the credit monitoring services provide a meaningful layer of protection for affected individuals.
2.6 Recommended Protective Steps
In addition to encouraging enrollment in the complimentary credit monitoring program, agents should advise all callers of the following recommended protective steps. This information should be provided to all callers regardless of the type of data that may have been involved.
Steps for All Callers
"In addition to enrolling in the complimentary credit monitoring, we recommend that you take the following steps to help protect your information:"
(a) "Review your account statements and credit reports regularly for any unauthorized activity."
(b) "Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit file by contacting each of the three national credit bureaus. I can provide you with their contact information:"
• Harborview Enterprises: 1-800-525-6285
• Penrose Group: 1-888-397-3742
• Penmark Enterprises: 1-800-680-7289
(c) "Obtain a free copy of your credit report from annualcreditreport.com. Under federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus every twelve months."
(d) "Be cautious of unsolicited communications asking for personal information. Quorum will never ask for your Social Security number, password, or financial account information by phone or email in connection with this incident."
(e) "If you believe you are the victim of identity theft, file a report with your local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov or by calling 1-877-438-4338."
Additional Steps for Financial Data Subset Callers
For callers whose records indicate that financial account information may have been involved (code "FIN"), agents should provide the following additional recommendation:
"We also recommend that you closely monitor your bank account and payment card statements for unauthorized transactions. If you notice any suspicious activity, contact your financial institution immediately."
Additional Steps for PHI Subset Callers
For callers whose records indicate that protected health information may have been involved (code "PHI"), agents should provide the following additional recommendation:
"You may also wish to review any explanation of benefits statements you receive from your health insurer for any services you did not receive, and report any discrepancies to your insurer."
2.7 Closing the Call
After addressing all of the caller's questions and completing any enrollment assistance, agents should close the call using the following language:
"Is there anything else I can help you with today?"
If the caller has no further questions:
"Thank you for calling. If you have additional questions in the future, please don't hesitate to call us back at this number. We're available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Have a good day."
Agents should ensure that all call documentation has been completed in the CRM system before moving to the next call.
Hours of Operation for the 12-Week Call Center Window:
Section 3: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) — Agent Reference
This section provides approved answers to frequently asked questions that callers may raise. Agents should use the responses provided below verbatim or in close paraphrase. If a caller's question is not addressed in this FAQ, the agent should escalate the call to a Tier 2 supervisor.
3.1 General Incident Questions
Q1: What happened?
A: Use the approved incident summary language from Section 2.2:
"Quorum Insurance Holdings Corp. recently learned that one of its third-party service providers experienced a data security incident that may have involved some of your personal information. The incident involved unauthorized access to certain systems maintained by the service provider. Quorum is notifying you as a precaution and is offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services."
Q2: When did this happen?
A:
"The unauthorized access to the service provider's systems occurred between approximately mid-March and mid-April 2023. The service provider discovered the unauthorized activity in mid-April 2023 and notified Quorum promptly. Quorum immediately began an investigation with the help of leading cybersecurity experts."
Q3: Who is the third-party vendor / service provider?
A:
"I'm not able to share the specific name of the service provider at this time. The vendor provides claims processing services to Quorum."
If the caller presses for the identity of the vendor or expresses dissatisfaction with this response, acknowledge the caller's concern and escalate to a Tier 2 supervisor.
Q4: How did the breach happen?
A:
"An unauthorized individual gained access to certain systems maintained by a third-party service provider. The investigation determined that the unauthorized individual exploited a vulnerability in the service provider's system. The vulnerability has since been addressed."
Do NOT mention CVE-2023-0669, GoAnywhere MFT, or any specific technical details. If the caller asks for technical details about the vulnerability or attack method, advise the caller that you are not able to provide additional technical details and offer to escalate the call to a Tier 2 supervisor if the caller has further concerns.
Q5: Was Quorum's own system breached?
A:
"Based on the investigation conducted by independent cybersecurity experts, the unauthorized access occurred within systems maintained by the third-party service provider, not Quorum's own internal systems."
Q6: How many people were affected?
A:
"Approximately 318,000 individuals across multiple states received notification letters."
Q7: Has the vulnerability been fixed?
A:
"Yes. The service provider has addressed the vulnerability that was exploited and has implemented additional security measures to help prevent a similar incident in the future. Quorum is also working with the service provider to ensure enhanced security controls going forward."
Q8: Was law enforcement notified?
A:
"Yes, applicable law enforcement authorities have been notified."
If the caller asks which law enforcement agencies were notified or requests additional details, advise the caller that you are not able to provide further details regarding the law enforcement engagement but confirm that appropriate authorities were notified.
Q9: Were regulators notified?
A:
"Yes, Quorum has notified all applicable state and federal regulatory authorities as required by law."
Q10: Why did it take so long for me to be notified?
A:
"After learning of the incident, Quorum engaged leading cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough forensic investigation to understand the scope of the incident and identify the specific individuals whose information may have been affected. This investigation took time to complete, and Quorum sent notifications as quickly as possible after the investigation was completed. Quorum complied with all applicable notification timing requirements."
3.2 Personal Information Questions
Q11: What specific information of mine was involved?
A: Refer to the caller's notification letter code and the Clearfield lookup system to identify the specific data categories that may have been involved. Provide the appropriate response from Section 2.3 based on whether the caller falls into the PII, Financial, or PHI category. In addition:
"The specific types of information that may have been involved are described in your notification letter."