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Home   /   Special Features   /   Veterans Data
AP REPORTS: VA LAPTOP RECOVERED; SENSITIVE DATA NOT ACCESSED

The following story was recently reported by the Associated Press:

The government has recovered the stolen laptop computer and hard drive with sensitive data on up to 26.5 million veterans and military personnel. The FBI said Thursday there is no evidence that anyone accessed Social Security numbers and other data on the equipment.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson, in announcing the recovery of the computer, said there have been no reports of identity theft stemming from the May 3 burglary at a VA employee's Maryland home.

The FBI, in a statement from its Baltimore field office, said a preliminary review of the equipment by its computer forensic teams "has determined that the data base remains intact and has not been accessed since it was stolen." More tests were planned, however.

Nicholson said the laptop and hard drive were turned in to the FBI. No suspects were in custody.

"This has brought to the light of day some real deficiencies in the manner we handled personal data," Nicholson said. "If there's a redeeming part of this, I think we can turn this around," he said.

An unidentified person turned the laptop in Wednesday to FBI agents in Baltimore, according Michelle Crnkovich, a spokeswoman for the Baltimore FBI field office.

Agents there conducted the initial forensic examination and were sending the laptop to the FBI in Washington for further tests, Crnkovich said.

Crnkovich said the tipster who turned in the laptop has not been charged and likely was not the thief. She said the FBI still believes the laptop was taken in a routine burglary and that the VA data was not the target. She did not know if the tipster was eligible for the $50,000 reward offered for information on the laptop's whereabouts.

Nicholson urged veterans to keep watch over their financial records until more tests are completed in the coming days. The VA's offer of free credit monitoring for a year is still in effect until subsequent tests are completed, he said.

Newly discovered documents show that the VA analyst blamed for losing the laptop had received permission to work from home with data that included millions of Social Security numbers and other personal information on veterans and military personnel.

Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, which was investigating the breach, said he was pleased that veterans may now be able to "breathe a sigh of relief."

"However, this will not diminish our oversight," he said. "We will hold the VA responsible and accountable."
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Congresswoman Thelma Drake is deeply disturbed by reports that a computer containing the valuable personal informaton of millions of American veterans has been stolen from the home of a VA employee.  In an effort to ensure that all veterans in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District have access to the latest information regarding this incident, Congresswoman Drake is publishing the following documents provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  More information will be provided as it becomes available.

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Veterans can go to www.firstgov.gov as well as www.va.gov/opa to get more information on this matter. VA has set up a manned call center that veterans may call to get information about this situation and learn more about consumer identity protections. That toll-free number is 1-800-FED INFO (333-4636). The call center will operate from 8 am to 9 pm (EDT), Monday-Saturday as long as it is needed. The call center will be able to handle up to 20,000 calls per hour (260,000 calls per day).

If a Veteran receives a notification letter from the VA, it is because their personal information was stolen. The Veteran should be especially vigilant for any signs that other people may have attempted to exploit their personal information. While there is no evidence yet that any missing data has been used illegally, all veterans should carefully monitor bank statements, credit card statements and any other statements relating to recent financial transactions. If there is any suspicious activity on their statements, they should report it immediately to the financial institution involved and contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) for further guidance. Such complaints will be added to the FTC Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, where it will be accessible to law enforcement agencies for continued investigation.

The Veteran should also contact the local police and ensure to retain a copy of the police report, because many creditors require an official report to absolve fraudulent debts. Additionally, if the Veteran receives a notification letter, they should seriously consider placing a fraud alert on your credit files. Initiating a fraud alert would be the most prudent action for most victims, with the exception of those persons who are about to seek a substantial credit line (such as buying a house). A fraud alert stays on a credit file for 90 days and may be extended. The alert tells creditors to contact the holder before opening any new credit accounts or changing any existing accounts. To place a fraud alert, call any one of the three major credit bureaus.

(1) Equifax at 1-800-525-6285 or write to P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250 or visit their website at www.equifax.com.

(2) Experian (formerly TRW) at 1-888-397-3742, or fax at 1-800-301-7196 or write to P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013 or visit their website at www.experian.com

(3) Trans Union at 1-800-680-7289 or write to P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634 or visit their website at www.transunion.com.

When one notifies any one of credit bureaus, they are required to alert the others. All three credit bureaus will then send credit reports, free of charge to the account holder, for your review. You should review your credit reports for any suspicious activity regularly for at least eighteen months.


Click here to read the notification letter being sent to veterans by the VA.

Click here for answers to frequently asked questions.

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Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA) has introduced legislation that will make it a federal crime for officials at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to negligently or maliciously disclose the sensitive personal information of our nation’s veterans. To read more about the Veterans Identity Security Act click here.
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Background:

- VA employee is a data analyst who accessed VA data while at home.

- Data included the names, social security numbers and dates of birth for approximately 26.5 million veterans.

- The data did not include electronic health records nor any financial information.



Efforts to rectify the situation by the VA

- The FBI and the VA Inspector General’s office have launched full-scale investigations into the matter.

- Authorities believe it is unlikely that perpetrators targeted the items because of prior knowledge of the data contents. 

- It is possible those in possession of the material are still unaware of the contents. 

- VA is working with Congress, other government agencies, the news media, and VSOs to help ensure that veterans and their families are aware of the situation and steps they can take to protect themselves. 

- VA is sending out individual notification letters to veterans. VA has established a manned call center that veterans may call to get information about the situation and learn more about consumer identity protections. 

- Members of the President’s Identity Theft Task Force have already taken action to protect the affected veterans by; working with credit bureaus and will be coordinating the comprehensive Federal response.

Personnel Changes by the VA

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The civil servant responsible for the breach in security has been notified that he will be terminated for violating department policy.

- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Michael H. McLendon submitted his resignation on Friday, May 26.

- Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning Dennis M Duffy has been placed on administrative leave.

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