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