VA data loss/theivery hits home...

[Ike]

So today my wife was sent a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs to inform her that some of her identifying information was stolen when an employee took home a laptop that was stolen from his house. I'm not sure I understand why her data was there in the first place, as she was discharged from the air force during basic due to asthma.


so now there may be more than one person running around claiming to be my wife. This could get confusing.

[jk the sooner fan]

did the letter say she might have had her personal data stolen, or DID?

we all got a form letter, but nothing so specific as what you just posted

[Ike]

It states:

"As a result of this incident, information identifiable with you was potentially exposed to others"

Unfortunately, this sentence is somewhat vague. It could mean "we don't know exactly which names and SSNs were on the lappy, and yours could have been one of them" or it could mean "we know which entries of the database were on the lappy, however, its possible that the theives have no idea what they have, or how to get at it" or anything inbetween.

[C&CDean]

I got the same letter a few weeks ago. I threw it away.

[1stTimeCaller]

The laptop with everyone's personal data that has been in the military since something like 1973 was stolen. They don't know if the thief knew what was on the computer or they just stole a computer.

I'm not sure what kind of info the VA has for all of us. Is it just name, dates, SSN, and medical history?

[rebmus]

I got the same letter a few weeks ago. I threw it away.
ditto.

the letter says to watch credit card bills, bank statements, etc. stuff i already do already...

(i learned my lesson after being married to watch those closely):eek:

[jk the sooner fan]

i threw mine away as well

[1stTimeCaller]

I framed mine.

[crawfish]

This whole thing has been a boon to my company.

[Ike]

ditto.

the letter says to watch credit card bills, bank statements, etc. stuff i already do already...

(i learned my lesson after being married to watch those closely):eek:


yeah, most of the suggestions there are things we do anyway.


lookin over it a little more, I am heartend by one small piece of information.

They have her name wrong.

They have only her maiden name, and sent the letter to us under her maiden name. We got married quite some time after her brief stint with the AF. So even if someone has her SSN, it won't match up with the name that SSN is registered to now. maybe it helps, maybe it doesnt...but it is something.

[OU4LIFE]

I framed mine.

[Okla-homey]

I got aforementioned letter AND this e-mail today. Read it closely, its says not just the GI's info was compromised, but his family members' as well.


This e-mail alerts you to a possibility that your personal
information, including name, social security number, and date of
birth, may have been included in the recent loss of data by an
employee of the Veterans Administration. We want to let you know
what happened, and how to protect yourself.

In May, the VA learned that an employee took home electronic data
without authorization. The employee's home was burglarized and the
data were stolen. Included were personal information for up to 26
million people, including many of the DoD family.

The Department shares information with VA to help ensure quick
service for customers of the VA. For example, the Montgomery GI Bill
and Servicemens Group Life Insurance are important to DoD, and both
are administered by the VA.

The DoD's interest now focuses on informing those in uniform and
their families how best to defeat identity theft. Several resources
are available.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up a special web site and
a toll-free telephone number: "www.firstgov.gov" and 1-800-FED-INFO
(1-800-333-4636). Each features up-to-date news and information on
the data compromise. The website provides steps on how to check
credit reports, how to guard against identity theft and who to call
if someone believes fraudulent activity is occurring with his or her
personal information. Information relating to the defeat of identify
theft also is available at "www.militaryonesource.com".

To date, the VA reports that populations affected by its data loss
have NOT experienced any rise in identity theft: however, DoD
encourages you to follow the advice available at the foregoing sites.




_______________________________________________
Delivered by Defense Finance and Accounting Service

[C&CDean]

Good thing I was single back then.....

[Okla-homey]

Good thing I was single back then.....

Yeah, but who was your SGLI beneficiary back then? Mom and Dad I bet. See, now your Mom is going to get mail from some guy in Ethiopia asking for her bank account info...wait, that already happens. nevermind.

[SoonerWood]

I got the same letter a few weeks ago. I threw it away.

Ditto, except I kept it in my file cabinet.

[Howzit]

I was out of terlet paper...

[jk the sooner fan]

Yeah, but who was your SGLI beneficiary back then?


i tried several times, albeit unsuccessfully, to change my legal name to "by law"

i would have been rich i tell you!

[OUinFLA]

Yeah, but who was your SGLI beneficiary back then? Mom and Dad I bet. See, now your Mom is going to get mail from some guy in Ethiopia asking for her bank account info...wait, that already happens. nevermind.


Now that has helped make my day.
My SGLI beneficiary was my ex.
Heh, I hope they got her SSN, her home addy, her dress size, and her lack of sexual habit information.
Not that Im bitter or anything :D