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Montage of Wing Point in Bainbridge Island and the Edmonds Ferry.

Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

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Legislative Issues

Identity Theft

Up to 26.5 million veterans nationwide were placed at risk of identity theft after a laptop computer was stolen that contained electronic files with their names, birthdates and Social Security numbers from the home of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee on May 3. Those affected include veterans discharged since 1975 and some of their spouses, as well as some veterans discharged before then who submitted a claim for benefits from the federal agency.

No cases of identity theft linked to the incident have been reported yet. But veterans whose personal data were breached still are vulnerable to identity theft and should remain on alert by monitoring their credit scores and statements from financial institutions, like credit-card companies and banks.

For more information on this situation and tips on preventing credit fraud and identity theft, veterans can call a hotline or visit a Web site set up by the VA in response to the massive security breach: 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636) or http://www.firstgov.gov/veteransinfo.shtml. They always can get help from Congressman Inslee by calling his office at 206-361-0233.

Veterans who suspect suspicious activity on their financial accounts should:

  1. Step 1--Contact the fraud department of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file.
    The company you call is required to contact the other two companies, and they each will place an alert on their versions of your report. You may ask for an initial fraud alert, which will stay in your file for at least 90 days, or for an extended alert, which will stay in your file for seven years. If you ask for an extended alert, you will have to provide a copy of a report you have filed with a law enforcement agency, and possibly additional information.
    • Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; Address: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA, 30374-0241
    • Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); Address: P.O. Box 2104, Allen, TX, 75013
    • TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; Address: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
  2. Step 2--Close the credit card and bank accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
  3. Step 3--File a police report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
  4. Step 4--File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by using the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline by telephone: 1-877-438-4338, online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft, or by mail at Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC 20580.
Click here for more information on preventing and responding to identity theft.