MAYOR ADAMS UNVEILS PLAN TO MAKE NYC FIRST EAST COAST CITY TO TRANSITION CITY’S HEAVY-DUTY FLEET VEHICLES TO RENEWABLE FUEL

 

By Mid-2024, All 12,600+ Heavy-Duty Vehicles in City’s Fleet Will

Transition to Cleaner, Renewable Diesel

 

Transition Will Replace Up to 16 Million Gallons of Fossil Fuel Every Year

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock today outlined a plan that will make New York City the first city on the East Coast to transition all heavy-duty vehicles in the city’s fleet from fossil to renewable fuel. The city’s fleet currently includes more than 12,600 on- and off-road trucks and specialized equipment that operate on diesel fuel — but by the end of Fiscal Year 2024, they will all operate on renewable diesel.

 

Renewable diesel is proven to reduce carbon emissions and will replace up to 16 million gallons of fossil fuel used every year to power the city’s heavy-duty fleet, which includes garbage trucks and ambulances. After the full rollout of 16 million gallons of renewable diesel, the city will have cut 128 billion grams of carbon dioxide pollution each year. The transition began this past September, with 2.5 million gallons of renewable diesel already used across heavy-duty vehicles.

 

“New York City continues to lead the way for the rest of the country by making our vehicles cleaner, greener, and safer,” said Mayor Adams. “From our vehicles to our buildings and our food, we are making sustainability a critical component of all the work we do. This is the ‘Get Sustainability Done’ administration, and we will continue to serve as a model for cities across the globe in combating climate change while still delivering vital government services to New Yorkers every day.”

 

“New York City is proud to run on clean, renewable diesel and play our critical role in protecting the planet,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “By transitioning to renewable diesel with our heavy-duty vehicles, we are reducing dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and keeping our air clean. This change exemplifies the Adams administration’s steadfast commitment to addressing climate change and delivering environmental justice by taking an innovative, forward-thinking approach.”

 

“City government must be the change we want to see, leading the way in our city’s green energy transition,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “This commitment to renewable diesel is a major milestone in our broad strategy to transition city operations to green and clean energy and do our part in protecting our planet’s limited resources.”

 

“Our transition to renewable diesel brings city government one step closer to renewing, revitalizing, and restoring our environment to better serve all New Yorkers,” said DCAS Commissioner Pinnock. “At DCAS, our efforts to green the city fleet have always been multifaceted, and with the adoption of renewable diesel, we are ushering in a new era in city government operations. With more than 2 million gallons of renewable diesel already delivered to city agencies, DCAS is setting a new standard for environment protection — one that does not compromise but enhances our ability to deliver critical services.”

 

Renewable diesel biofuel fully replaces fossil diesel — protecting the environment and delivering the same quality fuel. As the city works to fully electrify its entire vehicle fleet — in line with the goals of Intro. 279-A, which Mayor Adams signed into law in October 2023 — renewable diesel represents an important and immediately impactful intermediate step until viable electric models become fully available for city trucks and specialized equipment. Currently, 20,450 city vehicles — nearly three-quarters of the entire fleet — use a type of cleaner fuel alternative, such as electric, solar, hybrid, or biofuels. The city is also on track to meet its goal of eliminating half of the fleet’s 2015 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2025, as outlined in the NYC Clean Fleet Plan.

 

In addition to implementing cleaner fuel alternatives, the Adams administration is moving swiftly to electrify the city’s fleet. DCAS expects to operate over 5,000 electric vehicles by the end of 2023, with the number of electric vehicles in the DCAS-managed fleet increasing by 49 percent in Fiscal Year 2023. DCAS also already operates the largest electric vehicle charging network in New York state, with over 1,800 charging ports available to fleet vehicles, including fast chargers and solar carports. And DCAS will deploy another 500 charging ports in the next 18 months. The Adams administration has also supported the efforts of private partners to complement the city’s work by investing in and expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the city.

 

“Tackling the climate crisis means ending our dependence on fossil fuels and transitioning to cleaner, renewable energy sources,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “The transportation sector is the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States, and renewable diesel will help reduce New York City’s carbon footprint. I thank Mayor Eric Adams and DCAS Commissioner Dawn Pinnock for their leadership to make our city’s fleet the cleanest and greenest in America.”

 

“The Department of Sanitation operates thousands of heavy-duty vehicles, and New Yorkers expect those trucks to get the job done — whether picking up trash or plowing snow,” said New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “The transition to renewable diesel means our collection trucks will be there when needed, with less than half the damage to the air we breathe. I want to thank Mayor Adams for leading the way with this announcement, which sits squarely at the intersection of ‘Get Stuff Done’ and ‘Get Stuff Clean.’”

 

“We are proud to work with DCAS to adopt innovative technologies for our fleet that are sustainable and result in fewer emissions, and we cannot wait to put renewable diesel to work for NYC Parks’ heavy-duty diesel vehicles and equipment,” said New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “With this new Parks equipment switching over to renewable diesel — in addition to our nearly 100 recently unveiled electric pickup trucks complementing our existing electric fleet — we will continue to proactively look to reduce our emissions and make our city as clean and green as possible.”

 

“In order to fight climate change and the more destructive weather it is bringing to the region, city government is leading by example as we aggressively move to transition all of our operations to the cleanest possible fuels,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “At DEP, all of our roughly 750 trucks transitioned to renewable diesel earlier this fall, and our fleet of marine vehicles has been running on biodiesel for several years.”

 

“This major milestone is a win for our climate and for public health, especially for New Yorkers disproportionately burdened by preexisting health conditions like asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory illnesses,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah M. Hutchinson. “New York City is leading the nation, and the world, as we meet our aggressive goal of reducing emissions from government operations by 50 percent by 2030.”

 

“In 2015, New York City completed its first test of biofuels at NYC Parks. Biofuels have now been used for over a decade in every municipal fleet unit and building,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner for Fleet Management and Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. “Today, we take the biggest step forward yet — replacing all fossil diesel for city trucks and off-road equipment with renewable diesel. We will clean our truck emissions now using biofuels and keep working towards an even more exciting transition to electric and zero-emission vehicles in the years ahead.”

 

Mayor Adams has already taken aggressive steps to make New York City’s vehicle fleet greener and safer — transitioning 4,000 city vehicles to electric vehicles three years ahead of schedule and winning more than $10 million in federal funding to transition nearly 1,000 more, creating the “Green Rides” program to make for-hire vehicles zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible by 2030, and adding lifesaving active intelligent speed assistance technology in hundreds of city vehicles.

 

“We applaud Mayor Adams and DCAS for transitioning New York City’s entire truck fleet to renewable diesel, a major step in the city’s effort to reduce air pollution and fight climate change,” said Julie Tighe, president, New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV). “As we find ways to cut carbon emissions in our fuel supply and in every corner of the economy, renewable diesel has an increasingly important role to play, which is why NYLCV strongly advocates for a Clean Fuel Standard so more fleets can move off polluting fossil fuels and it is why today’s announcement is important to our public health and climate fight.”

 

Housing Lottery Launches For 375 Dean Street In Boerum Hill, Brooklyn

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 375 Dean Street, a 17-story residential building at 35 4th Avenue in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Designed by S. Wieder Architects and developed by 35 Holding LLC, the structure yields 143 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 36 units for residents at 40 to 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $31,543 to $165,230.

375 Dean Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn via NYC Housing Connect

Amenities include pet-friendly policies, a dog washing station, garage with assigned parking spaces, bike storage lockers, gym, storage, media room, party room, recreation room, children’s playroom, and a rooftop terrace. Residences come with hardwood floors, air conditioning, washers and dryers, and name-brand kitchen appliances. Tenants are responsible for electricity.

At 40 percent of the AMI, there are six studios with a monthly rent of $834 for incomes ranging from $31,543 to $45,200; eight one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $888 for incomes ranging from $33,806 to $50,840; and one two-bedroom with a monthly rent of $1,051 for incomes ranging from $40,458 to $61,000.

At 50 percent of the AMI, there is one studio with a monthly rent of $1,067 for incomes ranging from $39,532 to $56,500, and 13 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,138 for incomes ranging from $42,378 to $63,550.

At 60 percent of the AMI, there is one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $1,388 for incomes ranging from $50,949 to $76,260.

At 100 percent of the AMI, there is one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,389 for incomes ranging from $85,269 to $127,100, and four two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,852 for incomes ranging from $102,206 to $152,500.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there is one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $3,140 for incomes ranging from $107,658 to $165,230.

375 Dean Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn via NYC Housing Connect

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than January 29, 2024.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

If you meet the income levels as prescribed these apartments are really affordable right in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. Anyone can apply, you don't have to live in Brooklyn, but you can be living in Brooklyn.

Recidivist Fraudster Sentenced To 212 Months In Prison In Connection With $40 Million Ponzi Scheme And Other Frauds

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that FRANKLIN RAY was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres to 212 months in prison for engaging in multiple fraud schemes, including a $40 million Ponzi scheme and two COVID-19 loan fraud schemes, and committing aggravated identity theft in connection with one of those schemes.  RAY previously pled guilty to four counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “In the span of less than two years, Franklin Ray engaged in four separate fraudulent schemes, including a $40 million Ponzi scheme that victimized hundreds of people and schemes that stole funds intended for those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Ray even had the audacity to continue his Ponzi scheme while on pretrial release after his arrest in March 2022, stealing approximately $2 million from unsuspecting victims after he was charged with federal crimes.  Today’s sentence shows that engaging in fraudulent conduct will have severe consequences.” 

As alleged in the previously filed Complaint and Indictment and other court documents:

Beginning in at least June 2021, FRANKLIN RAY began to offer investors an opportunity to invest in his trucking and logistics company, CSA Business Solutions LLC (the “Truck Investment Scheme”).  Specifically, RAY and the investors entered into contracts pursuant to which CSA Business Solutions LLC would procure and operate a truck in its trucking business for each $20,000 contributed by the investor.  RAY told investors that the trucks would perform delivery services for a multinational e-commerce company and/or a multinational shipping company and that the investors would be entitled to 77% of the net income of the trucks.  In reality, CSA Business Solutions LLC operated few trucks and had minimal revenues from trucking activities.  Instead, investors in the Truck Investment Scheme received payments from new investments into the scheme or from other sources.  After the investors purchased the rights to trucks from CSA Business Solutions LLC, RAY sent them falsified spreadsheets at regular intervals, purporting to show the performance of their trucks during the relevant period.  RAY ultimately persuaded approximately 275 investors to invest at least $40 million and fraudulently claimed to have purchased over 2,000 trucks with the investments.

RAY also carried out fraudulent schemes to obtain over $1.9 million in government-guaranteed loans designed to provide relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of CSA Business Solutions LLC and another Michigan-based trucking company (the “SBA Loan Fraud Schemes”).  In connection with the SBA Loan Fraud Schemes, RAY submitted false information and forged documents to the Small Business Administration and commercial lenders.  RAY claimed that these businesses engaged in significant trucking business, but they had minimal revenues and trucking activity.  RAY also committed aggravated identity theft with respect to one of the SBA Loan Fraud Schemes.

In addition, RAY fraudulently induced a New York City-based real estate company (the “Company”) to pay $175,000 in startup costs for a joint venture (the “Joint Venture”) between the Company and CSA Business Solutions LLC.  In order to persuade the Company to enter into the Joint Venture and pay the $175,000, RAY lied about his personal business experience and the trucking business conducted by CSA Business Solutions LLC.  Rather than pay for startup costs, RAY spent the funds on personal expenses, including private airplane trips.  The Joint Venture was never formed.

RAY was arrested in early March 2022, and a CSA Business Solutions LLC bank account was seized at that time.  After his arrest, up until his Indictment in April 2022, RAY continued to operate the Truck Investment Scheme.  RAY hid the fact of his arrest and the seizure of the bank account and lied to investors about why he did not make expected payments after his arrest.  During the period after his arrest, RAY opened new bank accounts on behalf of CSA Business Solutions LLC and continued to solicit and accept investor funds for trucks that did not exist.  In the post-arrest period alone, RAY defrauded investors into paying at least $1.9 million into his scheme.

RAY previously pled guilty to bank fraud and wire fraud in the Eastern District of Michigan.  He received a two-year sentence in connection with those crimes and was released from federal custody in 2010.

In addition to the prison term, RAY, 52, of Canton, Michigan, was sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $42,128,912.00 and several assets, including a 1968 Chevy Camaro.  The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than Two Gigawatts of Community Solar Has Been Installed in New York

Milestone Represents Enough Clean Energy to Serve 393,000 Homes and Reaffirms State’s Position as Top Community Solar Market in the United States

Contributes to Five Gigawatts of Distributed Solar Operating Across the State, with Additional 3.3 Gigawatts in Development

Demonstrates Progress Toward State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act Goal to Install Six Gigawatts of Distributed Solar by 2025

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than two gigawatts of community solar has been installed in New York – enough to serve 393,000 homes, reaffirming the State’s position as the top community solar market in the United States. This community solar milestone contributes to five gigawatts of distributed solar operating across the state, with 3.3 gigawatts in development. Today's announcement demonstrates significant progress towards achieving New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to install six gigawatts of distributed solar by 2025, on the path to 10 gigawatts by 2030.

“New York’s two-gigawatt community solar achievement proves our commitment to a building a clean and healthy future,” Governor Hochul said. “Our ongoing investment in community solar generates measurable benefits for our health, our environment, our economy, and for the thousands of New Yorkers who can now enjoy lower electric bills, all thanks to our ability to harness the power of the sun.”

Community solar enables access to solar for homeowners, renters and business owners who may not have ideal conditions to directly install solar panels onsite. Through this arrangement, clean energy is still delivered by a customer’s regular electric providers, and the power produced from the solar array is fed directly back into the electric grid. As the electric grid is supplied with clean, renewable energy, subscribers receive a credit on their electric bills for their portion of the solar system’s output.

To date, community solar makes up 61 percent of total solar installations across the State this year. In addition, New York's distributed solar pipeline is now comprised of more than 8,700 projects, which once completed will provide 3,297 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power more than 600,000 New York homes. Building on this progress, in October, NYSERDA opened a second round of solicitations for the Inclusive Community Solar and Expanded Solar for All programs, which together aim to secure over 1,140 megawatts of community solar dedicated to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households and disadvantaged communities.

The State's success in deploying community solar is confirmed by the latest Wood Mackenzie Solar Market Insight quarterly report which ranks New York as the all-time national leader in installed community solar, as well as number one in 2023 for community solar installations, number two in overall distributed solar and number five for residential solar.

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “New York is steadfast in its commitment to achieving our Climate Act goals, and every milestone reached is one step closer to a more reliable, equitable, zero-emissions electric grid. As the top market in the nation, community solar will continue to be a vital model to deliver clean, low-cost renewable energy to places where rooftop-mounted solar panels aren’t feasible, ensuring more New Yorkers realize the benefits of this renewable resource.”

The achievement of this milestone has been underpinned by robust support from NYSERDA's NY-Sun program, the State's signature $3.3 billion solar initiative. Currently, installed distributed solar projects, combined with the projects that are under development, bring the State to 83 percent of the current goal to install 10 gigawatts of distributed solar by 2030.

MAYOR ADAMS UNVEILS PLAN FOR FIRST-EVER COMMUNITY VENDING AREA AT CORONA PLAZA

 

Regulated Community Vending Area Will Keep Corona Plaza a Safe, Clean, and Vibrant Community Space 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today unveiled a plan to establish the first-ever regulated community vending area at Corona Plaza in Queens. Developed by a group of city agencies led by Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, in partnership with local elected officials, community leaders, and other partners, the plan will ensure that Corona Plaza remains a welcoming community space that is safe, clean, and vibrant. 

  

The community vending area, permitted and regulated by the city for the first time at Corona Plaza, will resolve longstanding public safety and quality-of-life concerns stemming from unregulated vending that previously occurred. As of October 31, 2023, the city’s 311 system had received 78 complaints related to illegal vending in this area in 2023 — a nearly five-fold increase from 17 complaints in the same period of 2022. With the formal community vending area in place, all active vendors will be required to have necessary city permits, and a third-party operator will work with city agencies to address any public safety risks and community concerns. The plan for Corona Plaza delivers on a unanimous recommendation from Mayor Adams’ Street Vendor Advisory Board, which included representatives from city agencies, street vendors, retail food stores, property owners, small businesses, and community organizations. 

  

“Our administration has a vision for a Corona Plaza that welcomes all members of our community — keeping our neighbors safe, ensuring our streets are clean, and creating economic opportunities for local residents,” said Mayor Adams. “For too long, city government has told the community around Corona Plaza to fend for themselves, but now we are being clear that we are here to help. This community deserves a plaza that everyone living in, working in, and visiting the area can enjoy — and that’s exactly what this plan will deliver.” 

  

“New Yorkers rely on public space for recreation, culture, community building and eating. Today’s announcement reflects this truth and more importantly the level of cooperation and compromise it takes to make it happen — bringing safe and tasty vending back to Corona Plaza,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “This new community vending area provides a unique opportunity for street vendors to make a living outside of the shadows and has the potential of serving as a model for other neighborhoods.” 

  

“The first-of-its-kind community vending area at Corona Plaza will allow all who visit to celebrate what is best about street vending in a space that remains safe, clean, and vibrant,” said New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez. “Street vending is part of the fabric of our city, and this community vending area will ensure that people can enjoy the culture of the neighborhood while addressing longstanding safety and quality of life concerns.” 

  

“The variety of New York City’s mobile culinary offerings is legendary,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “These vendors bring their cuisine and culture to our communities, and we are proud to support this opportunity to add even more flavor to our neighborhoods.” 

  

“Street vendors are a vital part of New York City’s economic and cultural landscape,” said New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “We are excited to see Mayor Adams implementing a proposal from the Street Vendor Advisory Board, and we applaud him and our sister agencies for working hard to ensure vendors continue to have opportunities to serve our communities.” 

  

Under Mayor Adams’ plan, the city will identify a third-party operator to manage the vending area. The Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) will initially receive a permit to serve as the interim operator for four months, with the option for DOT to renew it. DOT will issue a request for proposal in early 2024 to select a long-term operator. As in other commercial districts, the third-party operator will address safety, sanitation, and quality-of-life issues caused by previous unregulated vending, while city agencies will monitor and take enforcement action as necessary to keep Corona Plaza safe and clean — including the New York City Department of Sanitation for sanitation rules, the New York City Police Department for quality-of-life issues, DOHMH for food safety and permit requirements, and the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) for fire safety and related permit requirements. 

  

The Corona Plaza community vending area will host 14 vendors, with up to 10 selling food. All vendors must have contracts with the third-party operator, which will direct vendors to apply for the other permits or licenses they need. All food vendors will be required to apply for a DOHMH food vending permit that is specific to Corona Plaza, and the third-party operator will need to comply with FDNY rules and regulations. DOHMH will review applications to ensure that all the required paperwork is in place and accurate, that the food being sold is appropriate for on-site preparation, and that all vendors have the required commissary relationship and food vendor license. General vendors who sell non-food items that are participating in the community vending area do not need a license from DCWP but must follow all other rules and laws. 

  

To ensure upkeep of the plaza, the operator will oversee maintenance during operating hours. The community vending area will operate every Wednesday through Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.  

  

“The QEDC, with our partners, is looking forward to making Corona Plaza a center of commerce that will benefit businesses both large and small,” said Seth Bornstein, executive director, Queens Economic Development Corporation. “In doing so, it will serve this thriving community and be a model for other neighborhoods throughout the city.” 

  

“The Corona Plaza Street Vendors Association is grateful to the elected officials and partners for their support for our community’s street vendors, most of whom are immigrant mothers,” said Rosario Troncoso, board president, Corona Plaza Street Vendors Association and member, Street Vendor Project, Urban Justice Center. “We have advocated for several years to formalize the market, even during the height of the pandemic, because we believe the market will be a foundational opportunity for the essential microbusinesses that provide our community with a cultural hub and nutritious, affordable food. We look forward to growing our collaboration with all involved in this project to make the market an example for the entire city, and to continue contributing to the economy of our neighborhood, Corona, Queens.” 

Attorney General James Warns New Yorkers Impacted by Medical Company’s Data Breach of Potential Identity Theft

 

AG James Urges Consumers Who Have Been Notified of Perry Johnson & Associates’ Data Breach to be on Alert and Take Action to Prevent Identity Theft

At Least 4 Million New Yorkers Have Been Impacted by the Data Breach

New York Attorney General Letitia James today warned New Yorkers impacted by a data breach at a medical transcription company, Perry Johnson & Associates, to take action to prevent potential identity theft. The company experienced a data breach affecting nearly nine million patients, including approximately four million New Yorkers in New York City and Syracuse. Northwell Health and Crouse Health have been affected by this data breach, and most individuals whose data was impacted have been notified. Attorney General James advises affected New Yorkers to protect themselves and their information from theft and impersonation. 

Perry Johnson & Associates is a Nevada-based company that provides transcription services to health care organizations and physicians for dictating and transcribing patient notes. In May 2023, Perry Johnson & Associates became aware of a breach affecting their systems. The medical transcription company said the data impacted includes some social security numbers and insurance and clinical information from medical transcription files. 

“I urge all New Yorkers affected by this data breach to stay alert and take these important steps to protect themselves,” said Attorney General James. “Bad actors can use the stolen information to impersonate individuals or cause financial harm. Identity theft is a serious issue, and my office will continue to take action to keep New Yorkers safe.” 

Attorney General James urges anyone who believes they were impacted by this to take the following steps to protect themselves: 

• Monitor your credit. Credit monitoring services track your credit report and alert you whenever a change is made, such as a new account or a large purchase. Most services will notify you within 24 hours of any change to your credit report.     
• Consider placing a free credit freeze on your credit report. Identity thieves will not be able to open a new credit account in your name while the freeze is in place. You can place a credit freeze by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus: 
  • Equifax | https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze +1 (888) 766-0008 
  • Experian | https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html +1 (888) 397-3742 
  • TransUnion | https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze +1 (800) 680-7289   
• Place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert tells lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing credit. You can place a fraud alert by contacting any one of the three major credit bureaus.   
• Obtain copies of your medical records. Contact your doctors, clinics, health care providers, pharmacy, and insurance company to get copies of your medical records. Review the records for anything you do not recognize. After a review of your medical records, report any errors and ask for corrections from your health care providers.
• Contest unrecognized medical billing: Wrongdoers may receive medical services in your name where you receive the bill. You should contest anything you do not recognize. 
• Inform your insurance company. Tell your insurance provider of any suspected fraud and find out if they have specific protocols for these situations. If the attack is related to Medicare, contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General online or at 800-447-8477. 

If you fall victim to medical identity theft, you should consider filing a report with the FTC online or at 877-438-4338.