The United States Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday that the personal information, including social security numbers, of 26.5 million U.S. Veterans has been stolen. According to the department, an employee took the electronic data home. The employee’s home was subsequently burglarized and the data was stolen. Governor Doyle today urged veterans to take action now even though there is not yet any evidence that the information has been used improperly.
“Veterans whose information was stolen are definitely at risk of identity theft and need to take action now to protect themselves,” Governor Doyle said. “Waiting until suspicious activity is detected almost certainly means ID theft has already occurred. Taking action now could help prevent veterans a lot of headache in the future.”
Governor Doyle also reminded veterans and all citizens that the Wisconsin Office of Privacy Protection can provide assistance. Governor Doyle created the Wisconsin Office of Privacy Protection in April of 2006 to act as a one-stop-shop of information on how to protect against identity theft. It can also provide information and assistance to help the victims of identity theft straighten out any problems caused by that theft.
Governor Doyle has directed the Office of Privacy Protection to work with the county veteran service agencies offices to provide information and assistance to veterans who have questions or concerns about identity theft or who believe they might be the victim of such theft. The Office of Privacy Protection has also posted a fact sheet, “If You Are a Veteran Concerned about Identity Theft” on its website at privacy.wi.gov. Copies can also be obtained by calling the Office of Privacy Protection at 800-422-7128 or emailing it at WisconsinPrivacy@datcp.state.wi.us.
“Identity theft is an insidious crime with the potential for lasting damage,” said Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John A. Scocos. “While the recent loss of VA data has not yet been linked to actual identity theft, veterans may want to place an initial fraud alert on their credit report, and know how to monitor for and react to the first sign of suspicious activity. Veterans and everyday people should contact the Office of Privacy Protection for additional information.”
