Information for American Veterans

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

For those of you who are Vets, wanted to share I got a letter from the VA today stating an employee took home some electronic data, and that persons home was then burglarized and the data was stolen. Some 26.5 million persons were included in these files, containing birthdates and ssn's. Apparantly this has been forwarded through the IRS since the VA doesn't have up to date addresses on everyone. Would assume there is possible information on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs website.

This information was stolen some time in May so it is very possible any information could be in use, so all keep a close eye out on your financial matters. Thought this might be usefull for those that haven't had to file taxes as of late and the VA maybe unable to get in contact with them. Possibly this has been on the news, I don't watch the garbage .

Bethanie

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

For those of you who are Vets, wanted to share I got a letter from the VA today stating an employee took home some electronic data, and that persons home was then burglarized and the data was stolen. Some 26.5 million persons were included in these files, containing birthdates and ssn's. Apparantly this has been forwarded through the IRS since the VA doesn't have up to date addresses on everyone. Would assume there is possible information on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs website.

This information was stolen some time in May so it is very possible any information could be in use, so all keep a close eye out on your financial matters. Thought this might be usefull for those that haven't had to file taxes as of late and the VA maybe unable to get in contact with them. Possibly this has been on the news, I don't watch the garbage .

Bethanie

yeah, ain't that great stuff? i take all the steps i can to safeguard my private info, and VA is busy taking it out of the building!

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

For those of you who are Vets, wanted to share I got a letter from the VA today stating an employee took home some electronic data, and that persons home was then burglarized and the data was stolen. Some 26.5 million persons were included in these files, containing birthdates and ssn's. Apparantly this has been forwarded through the IRS since the VA doesn't have up to date addresses on everyone. Would assume there is possible information on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs website.

This information was stolen some time in May so it is very possible any information could be in use, so all keep a close eye out on your financial matters. Thought this might be usefull for those that haven't had to file taxes as of late and the VA maybe unable to get in contact with them. Possibly this has been on the news, I don't watch the garbage .

Bethanie

yeah, ain't that great stuff? i take all the steps i can to safeguard my private info, and VA is busy taking it out of the building!

Unbelievable really!

[slim 1,525]

I lost count of all the forms I had to sign in the military with my SSN on them. (And that little privacy act disclaimer on the bottom!)

It doesn't surprise me one bit that this happened. A couple of months ago, an AP reporter bought a laptop from a market in Afghanistan that had classified information on it and the names and SSNs of soldiers (even the commanding generals) assigned to the area. The last thing I'm worried about is identity theft. If Osama and 'nem have access to names and SSNs of who served where, they could probably get a pretty good list together of who their "most wanted" are.

Someone stealing the $54 from my checking account won't hurt me too badly, and in truth, if they get some credit cards in my name, it will only help my credit score!

[almaty 19]

i gopt a letter in the mail..as did my son ( active ) got one..mainly saying they were chopf##ks and we were bigger chopf##ks./.cause the miltary has all our personal info..

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Someone stealing the $54 from my checking account won't hurt me too badly, and in truth, if they get some credit cards in my name, it will only help my credit score!

You have $54, can I borrow $2.50?

Jeez yes I remember writing ssn over and over and over until it was embedded in my memory.

I wonder if the dumb a** that did this was prior service. Hopefully whoever the thief was also got his or her personal information and some good loot, cuz we all know most of ex millitary are still broke !

i gopt a letter in the mail..as did my son ( active ) got one..mainly saying they were chopf##ks and we were bigger chopf##ks./.cause the miltary has all our personal info..

Sad thing they have to hunt us down through the IRS, or so they say!

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

I am not at all concerned about the financial impact of this, because if they try to get credit in my name many jokes will be made.

What does concern me, is just what we are all going through now, immigration. Seems to me there are now 26.5 million more names floating around for some illegal immigrant to buy on the corner. Not to mention if something like this were to take place with this information, how many of us might end up with criminal records we didn't even know we had? Scary!

[iceyspots 0]

I'm sorry to hear that any of you have suffered from this... hopefully the mess will be cleaned up soon!

[I'm Gone 60]

This happened over a week ago. Maybe I only heard about it because it happened in Maryland and I work for the government.

http://www.firstgov.gov/veteransinfo

I would like to hear from the congressman and senators that have been pushing agencies to let people work at home.

[Widge 0]

This was headline news on CBS nightly news about three weeks ago, the actual theft of the data took place May 3rd and the debacle that followed only seems to be getting worse with them now stating that its active service data and not just veterans as originally stated whose data was stolen.

As I said to hubby at the time think of the cost of sending out letters to all those involved ah the good use of the taxpayer $$$$$ wouldnt it just be easier to change all the numbers seeing as the only folk who should have/use them is the govt!!

http://www.cbs46.com/Global/story.asp?S=4975725

[slim 1,525]

I am not at all concerned about the financial impact of this, because if they try to get credit in my name many jokes will be made.

What does concern me, is just what we are all going through now, immigration. Seems to me there are now 26.5 million more names floating around for some illegal immigrant to buy on the corner. Not to mention if something like this were to take place with this information, how many of us might end up with criminal records we didn't even know we had? Scary!

Or be put on the "terrorist watch list" because someone uses our name and/or SSN to secure a safehouse, storage facility, rental vehicle, etc., that is investigated by the FBI or another govt. agency. What better way for the terrorists to secure materiel and logistical equipment (not to mention actually acquiring weapons) than to use a vets name and social?

[maria_b84 0]

OMG I should tell my husband then

maria