DFAS email on VA ID THEFT

I got this today--sheesh.....

This e-mail alerts you to a possibility that your personal information, including name, social security number, and date of birth, may have been included in the recent loss of data by an employee of the Veterans Administration. We want to let you know what happened, and how to protect yourself.

In May, the VA learned that an employee took home electronic data without authorization. The employee's home was burglarized and the data were stolen. Included were personal information for up to 26 million people, including many of the DoD family.

The Department shares information with VA to help ensure quick service for customers of the VA. For example, the Montgomery GI Bill and Servicemens Group Life Insurance are important to DoD, and both are administered by the VA.

The DoD's interest now focuses on informing those in uniform and their families how best to defeat identity theft. Several resources are available.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up a special web site and a toll-free telephone number: "http://firstgov.gov" and 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636). Each features up-to-date news and information on the data compromise. The website provides steps on how to check credit reports, how to guard against identity theft and who to call if someone believes fraudulent activity is occurring with his or her personal information. Information relating to the defeat of identify theft also is available at "http://militaryonesource.com".

To date, the VA reports that populations affected by its data loss have NOT experienced any rise in identity theft: however, DoD encourages you to follow the advice available at the foregoing sites._______________________________________________
Delivered by Defense Finance and Accounting Service

By HOPE YEN Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The government said Wednesday it would provide free credit monitoring to millions of veterans whose personal information was stolen last month, acknowledging it was not close to catching the thieves.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson said the agency would seek to protect millions of vets and military troops against identity theft after names, Social Security numbers and birthdates were taken from a VA data analyst's home on May 3.

Those eligible for one year of credit monitoring will be any of the 17.5 million people who are known to have had their Social Security numbers compromised. The VA has said up to 26.5 million could be affected, although some of them appeared to be duplicate names.

"It's not going to be cheap," Nicholson said at a news briefing, adding that authorities were not any closer to finding the stolen data. "Free credit monitoring will help safeguard those who may be affected, and will provide them with the peace of mind they deserve."

more


When I called the VA this morning about free credit monitoring, they didn't know anything about it. Perhaps I'll try again tomorrow.

I understood there was a bill, but there's no funding stream yet, I thought. They've already spent fourteen million just on the frigging mailouts we got.

Wonder if they'll bother to TELL us the resource is available, or just rely on the word getting out? Ah, I see in the article they claim to be doing it, but they're gonna have to give our data to some fuckup CONTRACTOR to get this resource:

He said those who have gotten letters from the VA saying they are at risk will receive additional information _ probably in early August after the VA solicits bids from contractors _ on how to sign up for the free monitoring for a year.

...Earlier this month, more than 150 House Democrats called on President Bush to request new money to provide credit monitoring to veterans. Veterans groups have filed suit against the VA, charging their privacy was violated and demanding $1,000 in damages for each person.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1381248&mesg_id=1381450

and here's the relevant text:

8- Where can I get further, up-to-date information?

The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up a special website and a toll-free telephone number for veterans which features up-to-date news and information. Please visit www.firstgov.gov or call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636).





I talked to Sheila this morning at that number & she did not know anything about the program. I plan on calling every fucking day until they tell me what I need to do & when are they going to start monitoring my credit. I'll be sure to post when they get their shit together.

During the Iraq debate in the Senate today, I heard one of the repuke say he was introducing a bill to pay for the credit monitoring.

about my VA phone conversations:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1483334