COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio’s government data theft scandal is growing.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland announced Wednesday there are far more names a Social Security numbers contained on a stolen government data device than first thought.

The device was stolen from a state government intern’s car in June. It contained government files that listed names and social security numbers of a wide variety of people, ranging from state employees to lottery winners and taxpayers.

Previously, it was thought that the private information of approximately 300,000 people was contained in the device.

Strickland announced Wednesday that the device also held information on additional 576,000 people.

The newly-released list includes:

- The names and Social Security numbers of 576,000 taxpayers with uncashed income tax checks from 2005,2006 and 2007.

- The names and Social Security numbers of 8,123 former state employees. It includes people who worked for the state from January 1999 to late 2001 and May 2005 to June 2007.

- The names and tax identification numbers of 86,986 companies that did business with the state.

It brings the total number of people affected by the data theft to 859,000.

Strickland said so far there is no indication that anyone who had personal information on the stolen device has had identity theft problems related to the state security breach.

State Administrative Services Director Hugh Quill said providing identity theft protection for those affected and to investigate the incident will cost the state about $ 2 million.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com