VA Offers Credit Monitoring For Veterans

FirstGov.gov - The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal ^ | June 21, 2006

[Eagle9]

What Credit Monitoring Will VA Offer?

NEW: How Will VA Provide Credit Monitoring?

As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continuing efforts to protect and assist those potentially affected by the recent data theft that occurred at an employee's Maryland home, VA announced on June 21 that the agency will provide one year of free credit monitoring to individuals whose sensitive personal information - Social Security Number (SSN) - may have been stolen in the incident.

VA also announced on June 21 the Department is soliciting bids to hire a company that provides data breach analysis, which will look for possible misuse of the stolen VA data. The analysis would help measure the risk of the data loss, identify suspicious misuse of identity information and expedite full assistance to affected individuals.

VA has no reason to believe the perpetrators who committed this burglary were targeting the data, and Federal investigators believe that it is unlikely that identity theft has resulted from the data theft.

NEW: How does an individual sign up for credit monitoring?

VA will solicit bids from qualified companies beginning the week of June 21. Once this process has been completed, VA will be sending follow-up letters to those whose sensitive personal information - Social Security Number (SSN) - may have been included in the data theft. The follow-up letters will contain specific instructions on how individuals can "opt-in" for free credit monitoring, as well as other information.

NEW: How long before VA will begin credit monitoring?

Once the solicitation for bids process is completed, VA will hire and begin working with the selected organization to organize the "opt-in" process and arrange for letters to be sent to those eligible for credit monitoring. VA will ask industry to provide expedited proposals, and to be prepared to implement them rapidly once they are under contract. VA anticipates having free credit monitoring available to those eligible by mid-August.

NEW: What information will the follow-up letter provide?

The follow-up letter will explain credit monitoring and how eligible individuals can enroll. The letter will also offer details on data breach analysis and the company VA contracts with to provide such services.

NEW: Who will receive this follow-up letter?

VA will be sending follow-up letters to individuals whose sensitive personal information - Social Security Number (SSN) - may have been included in the data theft.

NEW: Are spouses who may have been affected eligible for credit monitoring?

Individuals whose sensitive personal information - Social Security Number (SSN) - may have been included in the data theft will be eligible for free credit monitoring.

NEW: Are only individuals who previously received letters from VA eligible for credit monitoring, or is it being made available to all veterans and active duty service members?

VA is committed to providing free credit monitoring, on an "opt-in" basis, to those whose sensitive personal information - Social Security Number (SSN) - may have been included in the stolen data.

NEW: What will VA do if there is evidence that fraud has been committed against individuals as a result of the data breach?

Insurance providing monetary theft protection and other safeguards is included in standard credit monitoring services.

NEW: How will VA be able to determine whether or not an individual case of fraud is related to the VA data theft?

The VA will solicit bids from companies that provide data breach analysis that look for patterns in identity fraud. Such companies aim to determine whether instances of identity fraud are related to a specific data breach.

[Eagle9]

Latest Information on Veterans Affairs Data Security

Last updated on June 21, 2006

http://www.firstgov.gov/veteransinfo.shtml

_____________________________________________________________

See the web page link above for answers to your questions.

I received my letter from the VA on June 20, 2006. It was the same as the .PDF file available at the above link.

[Stirner]

Veterans' benefits should be spent on things of benefit to veterans. This contract is going to cost a lot, and it is not clear that there is as yet any danger to spend money guarding against. I don't have the statistics (and would love to hear from someone who does), but I'd bet 99% of computer theft, especially laptops, is just that, theft of equipment, not data. The first thing most theives will do is either wipe the hard drive and re-install a new copy of Windows (also stolen no doubt) so that they can have/sell a fresh computer. If and when there is a pattern of people's data being misused, go after the criminals and compensate the victim.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

I put an initial fraud alert on my files the first day I heard about this. I wasn't about to wait for the gub'mint to do this for me.

[WLR]

I agree.

Terrible waste of money and a Fat Boondoggle.

Polygraph the guy who lost it. (Actually I think he showed integrity to report it, heck he may have done it to demonstrate the problems with the system and it's not actually been lost by him. That data is still not secure anyway. If he passes then It is 99.997% related to theft and little worry. If it turns out he was trying to draw attention to a problem promote him as he did.

Wait till someone uses the data we will all know and the FBI will do a good job backtracking it.

If liberals were not such a creepy bunch and ever ready to wreck stuff.

I would have had the Local PD push every known crooks buttons telling them the Feds want a certain item and the heat will stay on until they get it.

W





W

[Eagle9]

I put an initial fraud alert on my files the first day I heard about this. I wasn't about to wait for the gub'mint to do this for me.

Yeah, the first day the news of the data theft was released I called and had a Fraud Alert put on my account.

[GulfWar1Vet]

Thanks Eagle for posting this :)

[ops33]

How do you do that?

[Freeport]

Monitor?! Monitor?! If those idiots cause an identity theft, THEY should PAY ALL COSTS out of their own pockets!

[Eagle9]

How do you do that?

How do I request a "fraud alert" be placed on my file if I believe I may be affected by the recent Veterans Affairs data security breach?

You have the right to ask that nationwide consumer credit reporting companies place "fraud alerts" in your file to let potential creditors and others know that you may be a victim of identity theft. A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you. It also may delay your ability to obtain credit. You may place a fraud alert in your file by calling just one of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. As soon as that agency processes your fraud alert, it will notify the other two, which then also must place fraud alerts in your file.
     

• Equifax: 1-877-576-5734; www.equifax.com      
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com/fraud      
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com
  
  An initial fraud alert stays in your file for at least 90 days. An extended alert stays in your file for seven years. To place either of these alerts, a consumer credit reporting company will require you to provide appropriate proof of your identity, which may include your Social Security number. If you ask for an extended alert, you will have to provide an identity theft report. An identity theft report includes a copy of a report you have filed with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency. For more detailed information about the identity theft report, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

[ops33]

Thank you very much.

[ops33]

Thank you very much.

[I Drive Too Fast]

The government has recovered the stolen laptop computer and hard drive with sensitive data on up to 26.5 million veterans and military personnel. The FBI said Thursday there is no evidence that anyone accessed Social Security numbers and other data on the equipment.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/29/D8IHVFQ00.html

[Eagle9]

Great News!

Thanks.