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