In a developing story, the Veteran's Administration confirms that 26,500,000 Social Security numbers belonging to military veterans were stolen. Their credit and privacy is put at risk.
Now, news is released that 2.2 million current members of active duty forces -- not just veterans discharged from the service over the past 31 years -- could be affected. According to the VA, names, social security numbers, and dates of birth of vets wound up missing; they assure that no electronic medical information was compromised.
This information is gleaned from a Pentagon briefing paper to Congress.
A measly $50,000 reward has been ponied up for return of the stolen computer device containing the information.
Is it too much to ask that the government that ordered these citizens to defend us and protect us, at the very least, protect the private personal data of these same men and women?
People are calling it a disgrace. I call it "don't give a crap" bureaucracy. I'm amazed at how frequently the military and the government agencies that permeate our lives demand that we provide this sensitive ID number that could so affect our credit reports and all of our financial dealings, and then be so careless with the paperwork and electronic files afterward.
I've witnessed multiple times at military centers how compiled rosters of active duty and reserve personnel get laid aside instead of getting dumped right into the nearest shredder. It happens everywhere.
That's why it is so important to guard that SSN whenever you can, and now, veterans who protected American for the past three decades will be tasked with protecting their own credit reports.
There is a phone number and a website offering initial, probably limited, information to veterans suspecting identity theft: http://www.firstgov.gov or check with the VA website (www.va.gov), or call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636).
This glaring disregard for the safety of veteran's personal privacy eclipses the damage done from previous identity theft raids on corporate credit company files, as this could be the largest theft of the actual Social Security numbers to date.
Having the SSN is key to stealing and destroying someone's financial identity. We've assembled a report at FindHow2.com to help you if you've been the victim of identity theft.
Additionally, Debt Advisor Steve Bucci offers these suggestions...
Reportedly, an analyst with the VA is the one responsible for taking home the 26.5 million names (what was his motivation?), and apparently, the data was stolen from his home. Apparently, it had been going on for a couple years, taking an agency laptop home to work on the files which were stored on an external computer hardrive. Media estimates put the number of files affected at 26.5 million veterans, fewer than 100 spouses were included, and between 19 and 20 million Social Security numbers were included.
My question: What project was that analyst working on since 2003 that involved such a huge database of veterans?
Ironically, the identity of the idiot who reportedly lost these files is being protected. When the investigation is complete, that employee probably needs to be reassigned: to the Iraqi front, full battle gear, 12 month deployment away from home in the desert.
The VA has posted this comment about the incident at its website on May 23, 2006:
"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently learned that an employee, a data analyst, took home electronic data from the VA, which he was not authorized to do. This behavior was in violation of VA policies. This data contained identifying information including names, social security numbers, and dates of birth for up to 26.5 million veterans and some spouses, as well as some disability ratings. Importantly, the affected data did not include any of VA's electronic health records nor any financial information. The employee's home was burglarized and this data was stolen. The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation." Go to their website http://www.firstgov.gov/veteransinfo.shtml, to read the rest of their apology.
The head of the VA, Jim Nicholson, has told Congress that it will cost the American taxpayers at least $10 million to inform the affected veterans of the incident, and tens of millions more to compensate veterans and help repair the damage done.
A federal class-action lawsuit is brewing in Washington amongst veterans groups who charge that the VA has violated veterans' privacy rights.
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