| Over 26.5 million veterans found | | | | information they should go many steps |
| themselves at risk for identity theft in | | | | further to protect their information, |
| 2006 when a federal employee's lap top | | | | their benefits and the benefits for |
| computer, containing important personal | | | | their family. Be sure to install virus |
| information such as name, date of birth, | | | | and anti spyware to protect information |
| address and social security number, as | | | | contained on your computer. Do not |
| well as benefits eligibility. Another | | | | conduct personal or financial business |
| 16,000 veterans were at risk when a | | | | at work, as it puts you at risk of being |
| government contractor's lap top computer | | | | overheard. You may not be as protected |
| was stolen from his home. It is a common | | | | by the business computer security system |
| practice for the VA to contract out | | | | as you think you are. Consider placing a |
| certain jobs such as software support | | | | "credit freeze" on your credit |
| and insurance billing and claims | | | | information. This requires the three |
| resolution to a subcontractor. According | | | | major credit agencies to contact you to |
| to a statement issued by the Veterans | | | | "lift" the freeze before making any |
| Administration this is done in order to | | | | changes to or issuing any new credit in |
| provide better customer service. But | | | | your name. You may take steps yourself |
| what happens when this "customer service | | | | to perform the credit freeze or you may |
| puts the customer at risk of identity | | | | use a service such as Trusted ID. In the |
| theft and false claims for benefits? In | | | | event your credit, personal, financial |
| this the most recent incident, of a | | | | or benefits information appears to be at |
| contractor, the contracting company, | | | | risk or "stolen" you should do the |
| Unisys Corporation offered free credit | | | | following: dispute the information on |
| reports to those affected. However, free | | | | your credit report and ask the three |
| annual credit reports are already | | | | major credit reporting agencies of |
| available through the Fair Credit | | | | TransUnion, Experian and Equifax to |
| Reporting Act. The Veteran's | | | | place a fraud flag on your credit file. |
| Administration also claimed that it | | | | Contact the credit lenders and advise |
| works closely with contractors in | | | | them of the situation as stated on your |
| developing the "highest standards" of | | | | credit report. Placing a fraud alert |
| protection and security. However, it | | | | insures that additional steps are taken |
| does not designate what systems are in | | | | before new accounts or changes to |
| place to protect a veteran's | | | | existing account in your name can occur. |
| information. The federal employee who | | | | Although everyone should review their |
| took home veterans information on a | | | | Social Security Benefit information to |
| laptop computer was required to undergo | | | | determine if their benefits have been |
| computer security and regulations | | | | illegally used, veterans in particular |
| training. Thousands of people were or | | | | should review both the Social Security |
| may have been affected by this lack of | | | | Benefits statement as well as their |
| stringent rules regarding the protection | | | | Veterans Benefits eligibility. To order |
| of their information. And the options | | | | a Social Security Benefits report, |
| available to them after the information | | | | contact the Social Security |
| may have been released were not | | | | Administration office. The first step |
| comforting. They were advised to obtain | | | | for protecting veteran's information is |
| their free credit report, monitor it (at | | | | for government agencies and contractors |
| an additional charge to the veteran) and | | | | to take those efforts necessary to |
| then to report to local law enforcement | | | | protect this information. The next step |
| authorities any problems with their | | | | is for veteran's to do all that they can |
| credit or instances of identity theft. | | | | to keep their information private. |
| Veteran's circumstances and the effects | | | | However, in the event these efforts are |
| of identity theft are unique. Many | | | | not effective veterans much report and |
| veterans are recipients of additional | | | | dispute false or incorrect information |
| benefits such as education and medical | | | | on their credit report or other service |
| that most people are not. Their children | | | | reports. It is necessary after reporting |
| may also be eligible for specific | | | | to the local law enforcement to contact |
| benefits, either monetary, educational, | | | | the Veteran's Administration office as |
| home buying or medical. This makes | | | | well as your State's Attorney General's |
| identity theft, an already serious | | | | office and The Federal Trade Commission |
| problem, even more complicated. | | | | by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT |
| Veteran's whether they feel their | | | | (1-877-438-4338). |
| information is at risk or not should be | | | | Lisa Carey is a contributing author for |
| extra vigilant. In addition to taking | | | | Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and |
| many of the steps to protect their | | | | protection. |
| personal, financial, and medical | | | | |