| Author | Message | ||
     Lowflyer |
From the VA website: 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 our 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. Appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the VA Inspector General's office, have launched full-scale investigations into this matter. Authorities believe it is unlikely the perpetrators targeted the items because of any knowledge of the data contents. It is possible that they remain unaware of the information which they posses or of how to make use of it. However, out of an abundance of caution, the VA is taking all possible steps to protect and inform our veterans. The VA is working with members of Congress, the news media, veterans service organizations, and other government agencies to help ensure that those veterans and their families are aware of the situation and of the steps they may take to protect themselves from misuse of their personal information. The VA will send out individual notification letters to veterans to every extent possible. Veterans can also go to www.firstgov.gov as well as www.va.gov/opa to get more information on this matter. The firstgov web site is being set to handle increased web traffic. Additionally, working with other government agencies, the 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 be open beginning today, and 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). The Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson has briefed the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, co-chairs of the President's Identity Theft Task Force. Task Force members have already taken actions to protect the affected veterans, including working with the credit bureaus to help ensure that veterans receive the free credit report they are entitled to under the law. Additionally, the Task Force will meet today, 22 May 2006, to coordinate the comprehensive Federal response, recommend further ways to protect affected veterans, and increase safeguards to prevent the reoccurrence of such incidents. The VA's mission to serve and honor our nation's veterans is one we take very seriously and the 235,000 VA employees are deeply saddened by any concern or anxiety this incident may cause our veterans and their families. We appreciate the service our veterans have given their country and we are working diligently to protect them from any harm as a result of this incident. The VA's FAQ does not cover my first question. That is, what is the full name, birthdate, and social security number of the stupid •••••••••••• that caused this mess?  | ||
| Chasespeed |
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 Who wants to wager that its related? I mean come on, access to SSN's...for 26 million people...etc.etc etc.... BUT, I will just sit back and watch.... Chase} | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Sweet,,,,They need to shut the whole freaking thing down and start over,,,what a horrible waste of everything it takes to run such an agency. The VA sux and I tell them that every chance I get. G2 | ||
| Bomber |
wow -- yet another manner in which the VA is helping the vets . . . . . . . ah well -- we tend to watch our credit ratings stuff pretty closely anywho -- shouldn't add to our efforts, much pretty shabby, though | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Hey Bomber,,,that's what I was thinking too! Hope they use my SSN first! Somebody's in for a surprise :-) 3 kids in college, house, 5 cars,,,and everything that goes with it,,,,ha ha ha,,jokes on them. I'm thinking I'll be proactive and eBay my own SSN and get it over with :-) G2 | ||
| Bomber |
Dad -- too funny -- yeah, blod from a turnip comes to mind, but it took us about three years to get things 100% squared away from the last miscreant that tried to open an account using our data -- funny, I had to prove I was innocent, instead of the other way round -- I am reminded of the Fleetwood Mac song, entitled "Oh, Well." ;-} | ||
| Diablobrian |
Thanks for the heads-up on this one. I may not have known otherwise. | ||
| Lowflyer |
I think a class-action suit is in order. I bet we could win free credit reports for life.  | ||
| Chasespeed |
I bet we could win free credit reports for life. I dont wanna know how bad my credit is... Chase} | ||
| Lowflyer |
"I dont wanna know how bad my credit is..." Okay, so we'll go for new identities and free credit reports. | ||
| Percyco |
"The VA sux and I tell them that every chance I get." Me too.....My former wife, a VA Registered Nurse had an affair with a paralized patient of hers that lived at the Bath NY VA hospital. She would remove him from the VA hospital grounds after hours among other things. She (3 years latter), now lives with him and uses him for every penny he has. VA supervisors and myself turned her into the VA director and the Inspector Generals Office to no avail. She still works at the VA to this day making the big $$$$ with only a hand slap for what she did. The VA has firm employee/patient conduct rules set in place but no one enforces them . The VA seems to have a pattern of not giving a $hit. P.S. I so kicked her butt during the divorce!  I now have a young attorney girlfriend that most importantly rides a Buell. OOOhhhh Yeah | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Hey guys, all I'm hearing here is negative things about the VA. This was the sad wrongdoing or a very bad mistake from what looks like a single person. It very well "could" have long ranging consequences but my experience with the VA has been very positive for two years now with some of the most caring people I have every met. I'm glad I did my service and am grateful for the VA benefits I'm now enjoying. Government bureaucracy is always a problem and isn't going away anytime soon but don't berate your local VA clinic as some like mine are a great bunch of people. Anybody else with "positive" stories? Bob | ||
| Diablobrian |
Without the VA i would not have been able to afford the health care I needed after my big accident. I'd say that's pretty positive! VA non service related disibility pension has covered the margin between what SSDI pays out and what it actually costs to live (even out here in Missouri). If you were to find yourself in the position I'm in you'd be very glad you took the time to serve in the miilitary when you were younger. (USN 1987-1993) Even though my motivations were not even remotely related to VA benefits at the time! | ||
| Bigdaddy |
I'm overjoyed to hear that some veterans are getting good and reasonable care from the VA. G2 | ||
| Jackbequick |
The VA care up here in Maine is wonderful. You have to pursue it, they won't come find you and force it on you. And don't go to the VA with a chip on your shoulder. The people at the working level deserve the same amount of respect that you expect to receive. I travel 25 miles to a clinic that does all the basic healthcare stuff, and its 90 miles (and a beautiful bike ride) to a full service VA hospital that quickly resolved two long standing service connected problems for me. They operated on and fixed my carpal tunnel problem and provide me with a pair of hearing aids. Both of those have made life much more pleasant for me. The sad part on this story is that it cannot be undone and the individual who created the problem will most likely go unpunished. Accountability for civil service employees is very lax. Jack | ||
| Bomber |
I, too, and very very pleased to hear that some are getting good care from the VA -- sadly, I have no idea how the VA might be able to manage this situation (records brought home and then stolen) -- I can't think of a positive for them, or for the nations veterans -- only the absence of a negative but hey, could just be the day I'm havin, yes? | ||
| Lowflyer |
This thread was started only to warn other vets about the security breach and potential compromise of their personal information. I don't give a rat's a$$ about anyone's personal VA experience good or bad. I don't understand why some people around here have this burning need to turn every thread into some sort of stupid-ass opinion poll. | ||
| Tork |
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| Lowflyer |
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| Light_keeper |
Jack: yes we do have a good VA system up here. I have been told horror stories but as yet have had only good service from them. In fact I go in tomorrow at Togus for an evaluation of my decreasing hearing which is already rated but now getting worse. I have no complaints here. My biggest complaint is the law makers who refuse to do right by the vets. hold closed door voteing so the public doesn't see who vote against funding for the vet programs, concurrent reciept etc... As evidenced by this board the people care about the vets service but the law makers don't. ( Sorry just my rant. )  | ||
| Alanshouse |
The VA won't give me the disability I feel I deserve. The GI Bill checks come on time to help me forget about that. | ||
| Lowflyer |
I'm happy and consider myself lucky to have escaped without any disabilities. | ||
| Wardan123 |
Hey Bigdaddy! Its already there- http://cgi.ebay.com/How-To-Get-A-Legitimate-New-Social-Security-Number_W0QQitemZ 6059272706QQcategoryZ3148QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Ha ha! | ||
| Bigdaddy |
 Wardan, The offer was from Hickory North Carolina too,,,,that's freaking amazing/coincidental,,,20 miles north of me. G2 | ||
| Odie |
Concurrent receipt (or lack thereof) pisses me off!!! | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Odie, My favorite subject -- indeed! G2 | ||
| Odie |
Bigdaddy- I don't get much in disability pay but come on! What kind of logic did they use when they came up with that rule?!?! Oh, I know- the bean counter rule! By the way- how's your Dad doing? | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Odie, I know and it sucks. Dad's doing great! He was up, and moving about, this morning and talking about mowing my yard :-) Those pig valves are pretty amazing,,,I saw him out in the barn eyeballing one of the old scoots and wouldn't be surprised to see him riding one today :-) We're a blessed family! We need to talk off line when you can. G2 | ||
| Jackbequick |
Odie and G2, Don't know if you're aware of it so I'll mention it. That rule changed a little in 2004, some info on it here: http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourcesContent/0,13964,38349--1,00.html Jack | ||
| Stretchman |
I am a 100% service connected vet. i would rather have my health than a disability check any day of the week. But it's not optional. Anyway, I am more than willing to lay odds that if the data was available on a laptop, that the analyst probably pass protected the system. Which means that whoever stole it may not have been able to access the data. He probably formatted the drive instead, and installed a new OS over the top of it. He's probably playing games or listening to MP3s right about now. Which means that more than likely the data is safe. Of course, if the analyst purposely stole it, or the person who did steal it was targeting the data, then all bets are off. EIther way, what do you care if someone else wants to spends yet someone else's money. You are in no way liable for anything that someone else steals or charges up. A fingerprint check takes about 48 hrs now, and there is a centralized NCIC database that can bring up your records in no time flat. The biggest thing that will probably come out of this is that there will be a whole lot of people who have fraudulent claims who will be discovered if there are any attempts to use your data to in any way defraud the Govt. Might even get some peoples cases pushed through the system when they otherwise would have sat dormant. We'll have to wait and see. Should be interesting either way. Stretch | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Jack, I remember that and I've spoke with the VA, and DAV, and it's still not concurrent receipt as I understand it. As a CRSC and retired I take the hose job from VA -- of course there's many other Veterans out there who've been getting hosed longer than I have. VA disability rating and retirement should have zero bearing on each other. They say it's changing and I say "show me." G2 | ||
| Lowflyer |
Stretchdude, That's a fairly optimistic outlook. I am not so optimistic. I know that it takes less than a few hours to crack a password. I also know that bad people will pay good money for that data. I hope that the investigation is thorough enough to determine that the analyst made an honest mistake. It seems rather coincidental to me. I care that my info is safe because while I may not be liable for the charges, it still bears a cost. Ask anyone who has had their identity stolen. | ||
| Jackbequick |
G2, It is always so complicated. I'm lucky be where I am and to have what I have. I wish everyone could get justice. You want to talk about a ripoff, let's talk about survivor's benefits. When I croak my pension stops, my wife will not get one damn cent if she outlives me. And another ripoff is that a felony conviction stops my pension. Does that make sense? Did Duke Cunningham lose his fat cat gold plated politician's benefit package for getting taken down? I'll bet not. In theory, he should have lost his Navy pension. Jack |
