Posted on 11/27/2001 10:55:28 AM PST by gunnrmike
Subject: FW: DD 214 Warning > FYI: > > Historically, VA, FFSC, RAO's, and other military affiliated groups, have > always encouraged separating and retiring personnel to file their DD 214's > with their county courthouse so that they would always have access to a > legitimate copy in case their original is ever lost. We have always > encouraged personnel in TAP class to do this; however, here's a reason we > might want to re-think it. > >
I had a retired Master Chief come by my office this morning > with a scary story. His identification was stolen the beginning of > September. He received a call from a lady at American Express because > someone had established credit with them (in his name) and was trying to > cash a $9,000 check in his name in early September, made out to a > Muslim/Arabic-sounding name. The lady flagged the check because apparently > she had a different address on file for the Master Chief than what showed on the > check. When she called him, he of course reported it.
>
Last night, the Master Chief received a call from an investigator >telling him that they finally tracked down the fellow who stole his >identification. > The guy is a lawyer and had a lap-top computer with several thousand > MILITARY names, SSN's and other information. Each military person was a > separatee or retiree and their common link was > that they had their DD 214's filed with a county clerk. The Master Chief > was told that this lawyer had accessed the DD 214 information through the > public court computer system.
> >
I called our Camden County courthouse this morning and asked about their > procedures for DD 214's. The clerk there told me that although DD 214's > were not put on their computers, they were public record. In fact, > with the exception of adoption papers, anything filed through the courthouse > was public record. A check with the county clerk in Brunswick revealed the > same information. In fact, when asked directly if someone could obtain a > certified copy of a DD 214, the answer was "yes." The clerk did say that > they would verify the SSN (which of course you could look up on the public > record first!).
> >
This is really scary stuff, and it gets scarier. I called PSD here and > asked them what a retiree would need to replace a lost I.D. card and asked > specifically if a certified court-copy of a DD 214 would suffice. I was > informed that they usually ask to see a picture i.d. but would probably > issue the i.d. card without it, so long as the member had a certified copy > of his DD 214! I told the I.D. card section leader this story and warned > him to be careful. This was the Master Chief's main concern that it > appears that it would be easy for others to steal your identity and get a valid > I.D. card to get access to military bases. > > I notified the RAO, the VA Representative, and > the TAMP Manager. Bob called Dennis Xxxxxx, the Retired > Activities Program Director at BUPERs and gave him a heads-up on the > situation. Sandra is notifying her superiors at the VA. Debbie has > brought the matter to the attention of the TAMP Program Manager in PERS.
> >
Please help warn folks. Unfortunately, the down side to not filing the DD > 214 with the county court is the hassle it can take to replace a lost DD > 214. It can take months to get one replaced, if at all. The bottom > line is safeguarding this important document. Have folks make copies and keep > the original in a SAFE place (kid/animal/fire proof, > etc...). >
Or.....simply PROOF of military service.
More importantly does it have Date of Birth, SSN, last address, etc? That's the ID theft info ...
I like that! Plus it has Nerd Credits on it. I gradiated the Army a Nerd. Proud of it too.
Would that be in National City?
Yep, what political party makes up most of the county workers through out this country?!
I attended a church workshop on wills and important paperwork a few years ago. The lawyer advised that important copies like the DD 214 be deposited in a safety deposit box. Then have copies of all insurance policies, wills there and have a close relative store a copy in their safety deposit box. He, also advised to take pictures of all valuables, guns, jewels, paintings etc. and make copies and store one set in your safety deposit boxe and one in your close family members box. This dual storing insures that if the worse happens, your heirs will have a clear documentation of what is to be passed on to them! My DD 214 was taken out for filing for Social Security and a personal reason. It will be put back into our safety box!
Uh, no,actually. It's a paper that documents your military service, so that when some bozo questions it, you can whip it out.
Unfortunately, the majority of Americans who were eligible for military service in the past 40 years declined the honor, so they do not have one of these...
Sounds like you may be in this group! LOL
And they still couldn't get a San Miguel to taste as good as it did in P.I..
If you have to ask you need NOT worry about it. However, it is a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
Stay well - stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown
No one can get a San Miguel to tast as good as it did in PI. So cold frost formed on the bottle and ice crystals in the beer.
Holy Cow!!, I can't believe someone on this board remembers that place. I haven't thought of it for 30 years. The last time I was in there I was dating one of their cocktail waitresses. That was in the early 70's. Thanks for rekindling long forgotten memories. I used to practically live there.
And that's exactly what I did...:-).
My VA ID is the best damned photo ID in my wallet. Those, people know, are earned and you can't buy them on the street.
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