CENTERVILLE, Ohio -- Diane Davis never imagined that her personal information would be stolen.

She was shocked to find that her name and Social Security number were listed among the thousands of computer files on a data device stolen from a state agency intern’s car June 10.

“I should have never been on that list. I was shocked that I was on the list,” Davis told WHIOTV.COM.

She first learned of the problem when she entered her name in a search engine on the state Web site www.ohio.gov/idprotect.

Davis said she called the state call center at 1-800-267-4474 and was told that her information was on the data device because she used direct deposit for her income tax refund.

State authorities are sending hundreds of thousands of letters to taxpayers who had their information on the data device. Taxpayers who are effected by the data theft scandal should receive a letter within the next week or two.

Shari Sword of the Dayton Better Business Bureau encouraged people to take advantage of the free identity theft protection offered by the state.

The identity theft protection for hundreds of thousands of people and the mass mailings will cost an estimated $2.2 million.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com