Servicemembers Urged To Check Credit After Theft Of TriWest Computers, Files

Stars And Stripes ^ | 01/04/2003

[SAMWolf]

Military officials recommend that servicemembers check their credit reports after last month’s theft of computers and health records from a Tricare contractor.

Files containing names, Social Security numbers, addresses and other personal information were stolen from TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp., an Arizona company that contracts with Tricare to provide health care for servicemembers and their dependents, according to an Army news release.

TriWest serves military beneficiaries in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and part of western Texas.

Beneficiaries may obtain information from the TriWest Web site, www.triwest.com; from the TriWest toll-free information line, 888-339-9378; or by e-mailing TriWest at computertheft@triwest.com.

If you suspect that your personal information has been misused, you should contact the fraud departments of all three major credit bureaus; close or suspend accounts thought to have been tampered with or opened fraudulently; and file a police report in the community where the identity theft took place.

When contacting credit bureaus, request that a “fraud alert” be placed in your file with a statement instructing creditors to call before opening new accounts or changing existing accounts, officials said.

***************************************************************

Who to contact if you suspect identity fraud

To protect your credit rating, contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus:

• TransUnion (www.transunion.com)
Fraud Victim Assistance Dept.
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
800-680-7289

• Equifax Credit Information Services (www.equifax.com)
Consumer Fraud Division
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348
800-525-6285

• Experian (www.experian.com)
Experian’s National Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013
888-397-3742

If you suspect your Social Security number has been misused,
officials recommend contacting the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline
at 800-269-0271.

You also can check:

• SSA Fraud Hotline for Reporting Fraud:

www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm
• Social Security Administration Publication No. 05-10002:
www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html
• When Someone Misuses Your Number (SSA Pub. No. 05-10064):
www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html

If you suspect that you are the victim of identity theft, officials recommend filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline. The toll-free number is 877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) or direct dial to 202-326-2502.

You may also write the FTC at:

Identity Theft Clearinghouse
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20580

The FTC provides a consumer guide,
“ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name,”
at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

[SAMWolf]

(((Ping)))

[Soaring Feather]

Thanks Sam, worthy information!

[SAMWolf]

I figured it deserved it's own thread.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for the info, Sam.

Bump.

[fogarty]

Guess what, servicemembers? If your identity has been stolen, YOU'RE the one who has to pay. You have to pay to even get copies of your credit report, because the DoD contractor won't do it, and Uncle Sam sure as hell won't either.

[SAMWolf]

It figures.

[arm958]

Appreciate the info, especially since I'm one of those unfortunate people who just had his personal info stolen from the Tri-West office.

[SAMWolf]

Good luck on getting it straigtened out. Hope this info helps some.

[HiJinx]

A lot of people need to thank their lucky stars HillaryCare didn't make it through the Congress...

'Cause that's what the Military's TriCare is.