tiggerlover
<font color=33CC99>Still waiting for "the talk"<br
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2000
From the VFW website, just thought I would share with others as it looks like active duty, family members and retirees can possibly all be affected.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
June 7, 2006
To All Veterans and Spouses:
On May 3, personal information on 26.5 million veterans was stolen from the home of a Department of Veterans Affairs employee who was not authorized to take such information home. The data, stored on a personal computer, consisted of names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and some home addresses, telephone numbers, disability ratings and spousal information.
VA Secretary R. James Nicholson publicly announced the theft on May 22 and assured the nation that his department would contact every veteran affected and provide them detailed information on what they should do to protect themselves from identify theft and fraud.
Until you are contacted by the VA, every veteran should assume that they are affected by this loss of personal data, and act quickly to protect yourself from identity theft and fraud. Veterans should contact one of the three largest national consumer credit bureaus below and place a free three-month fraud alert on your file and, if married, your spouses file. The other two companies will be automatically informed of the fraud alert.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742, www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289, www.transunion.com
We understand the VA is working with the national credit bureaus to develop a program that will extend beyond the three-month free period. The VFW firmly believes it is the obligation of the U.S. Government to pay for any additional credit protection, to include assisting veterans should they become credit fraud victims.
The VA established a national toll-free number, 1-800-FED-INFO (333-4636), and website, www.firstgov.gov, for veterans to contact for additional information, but the answers provided are generic and do not answer the primary question: Am I on the list? The VFW recommends that you assume you are.
Heres what we know about the data loss to date: It impacts up to 26.5 million veterans, to include some spouses. The VA said it affects all veterans who separated or retired since 1975, and older veterans if they filed disability compensation claims or used their GI Bill or home loan guarantees. We also learned this week that World War II veterans who participated in Mustard Gas experiments may be affected, as well as current Guardsmen and Reservists who once served on active duty.
Clearly, we do not have a full accounting on which veterans are impacted, so I urge you to protect yourself and your families now, and I ask that you share this letter with others, especially older veterans who may not fully understand the ramifications of identity theft and fraud.
We will continue to keep you informed as more details become known. Please check our website at www.vfw.org for updates.
Yours in Comradeship,
JAMES R. MUELLER
Commander-in-Chief
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
June 7, 2006
To All Veterans and Spouses:
On May 3, personal information on 26.5 million veterans was stolen from the home of a Department of Veterans Affairs employee who was not authorized to take such information home. The data, stored on a personal computer, consisted of names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and some home addresses, telephone numbers, disability ratings and spousal information.
VA Secretary R. James Nicholson publicly announced the theft on May 22 and assured the nation that his department would contact every veteran affected and provide them detailed information on what they should do to protect themselves from identify theft and fraud.
Until you are contacted by the VA, every veteran should assume that they are affected by this loss of personal data, and act quickly to protect yourself from identity theft and fraud. Veterans should contact one of the three largest national consumer credit bureaus below and place a free three-month fraud alert on your file and, if married, your spouses file. The other two companies will be automatically informed of the fraud alert.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742, www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289, www.transunion.com
We understand the VA is working with the national credit bureaus to develop a program that will extend beyond the three-month free period. The VFW firmly believes it is the obligation of the U.S. Government to pay for any additional credit protection, to include assisting veterans should they become credit fraud victims.
The VA established a national toll-free number, 1-800-FED-INFO (333-4636), and website, www.firstgov.gov, for veterans to contact for additional information, but the answers provided are generic and do not answer the primary question: Am I on the list? The VFW recommends that you assume you are.
Heres what we know about the data loss to date: It impacts up to 26.5 million veterans, to include some spouses. The VA said it affects all veterans who separated or retired since 1975, and older veterans if they filed disability compensation claims or used their GI Bill or home loan guarantees. We also learned this week that World War II veterans who participated in Mustard Gas experiments may be affected, as well as current Guardsmen and Reservists who once served on active duty.
Clearly, we do not have a full accounting on which veterans are impacted, so I urge you to protect yourself and your families now, and I ask that you share this letter with others, especially older veterans who may not fully understand the ramifications of identity theft and fraud.
We will continue to keep you informed as more details become known. Please check our website at www.vfw.org for updates.
Yours in Comradeship,
JAMES R. MUELLER
Commander-in-Chief
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
