Posted on 08/07/2006 2:49:18 PM PDT by grandpa jones
WASHINGTON (AP) - As many as 38,000 veterans may be at risk of identity theft because a Veterans Affairs Department subcontractor lost a desktop computer containing their sensitive personal data.
VA Secretary Jim Nicholson said that Unisys Corp., a subcontractor hired to assist in insurance collections for VA medical centers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, reported the missing computer last Thursday. The computer was being used in Unisys offices in Reston, Va.
It is not yet known what happened to the computer, Nicholson said, adding that local and federal authorities are investigating.
The computer is believed to contain names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, insurance carriers and claims data including medical information for veterans who received care at the hospitals in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh during the past four years.
(Excerpt) Read more at siliconvalley.com ...
ping
This is getting old. Tell me again why government is supposed to be the solution?? You'd think after the first time, they would have taken steps to prevent a recurrence.
But, guess not!! It is GOVERNMENT, after all!!
(government is a *code word* for "incompetent people who can't get jobs in the private sector")
Read the article?
It was some ingrate from the federal government that was incompetent enough to keep personal data on a desktop computer. HIPAA? SarbOx? Anybody? The freaking government is exempt from it's own damn rules.
I'm sure the user of that desktop will get a stern talking to, though.
Does this mean I'm going to get another letter from the VA "explaining" things???
HA.
That last one must have cost the taxpapers a pretty good pile of $'s, just to widely and generally, mail it out to (all?) veterans.
Still, this slip up, and the other previous one much like this one but larger(?) makes me think about asking them if anyone has ever tried to apply for benifits in my name (number?). I sure haven't...
I guess I'll wait...maybe forever.
For a next while, I'd bet there will be a large influx of calls and letters. For my part, I'd just as soon not bother the VA, and let them spend their time (hopefully!) helping those whom REALLY could use it.
No. After the last debacle, I know all I need to. Whether it was UniSys or the VA itself, data that is supposed to be private is walking out of these computers. Also, after all the lies and subterfuge put forth by the VA the last time veterans data was "missing", what makes the VA so credible now??
BTW, I'm one of those veterans whose data was "missing" the last time and, for all I know, it could be "missing" again. It tends to make it a little more personal.
Bump thread:
http://209.157.64.201/focus/f-news/1636391/posts
Key Data on Millions of Veterans Stolen!
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