(no subject)
Dear Constituent,
I am absolutely outraged by reports that an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs has compromised the security of the identities of 26.5 million veterans - including their names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth. At no time should this sensitive and confidential information have been removed from its secure location. By doing so, this federal employee committed a severe breach of national security by compromising the identities of former military personnel. I believe that this individual should be immediately fired and possibly brought up on criminal charges. The VA needs to take any and all steps necessary to secure the identities of these 26.5 million individuals who bravely served this country, and ensure that a breach of security of this nature never happens again.
The veterans of WNC should be vigilant against the possible illegal use of their personal information stemming from this incident. They and their families should closely monitor their credit reports and monthly bills for any suspicious activity. My staff and I are ready and able to help respond to any cases of identity theft occurring to veterans in our area. If you detect suspicious or unusual activity in your personal financial statement, I suggest you follow these recommendations of the Federal Trade Commission:
Step 1 - Contact the fraud department of one of the three major credit bureaus:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, Texas 75013
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Step 2 - Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently
Step 3 - File a police report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
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.
Additionally, The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up a special website and a toll-free telephone number for veterans which features up-to-date news and information. Please visit www.firstgov.gov or call 1-800-FED-INFO (333-4636).
I am absolutely outraged by reports that an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs has compromised the security of the identities of 26.5 million veterans - including their names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth. At no time should this sensitive and confidential information have been removed from its secure location. By doing so, this federal employee committed a severe breach of national security by compromising the identities of former military personnel. I believe that this individual should be immediately fired and possibly brought up on criminal charges. The VA needs to take any and all steps necessary to secure the identities of these 26.5 million individuals who bravely served this country, and ensure that a breach of security of this nature never happens again.
The veterans of WNC should be vigilant against the possible illegal use of their personal information stemming from this incident. They and their families should closely monitor their credit reports and monthly bills for any suspicious activity. My staff and I are ready and able to help respond to any cases of identity theft occurring to veterans in our area. If you detect suspicious or unusual activity in your personal financial statement, I suggest you follow these recommendations of the Federal Trade Commission:
Step 1 - Contact the fraud department of one of the three major credit bureaus:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, Texas 75013
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Step 2 - Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently
Step 3 - File a police report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
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.
Additionally, The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up a special website and a toll-free telephone number for veterans which features up-to-date news and information. Please visit www.firstgov.gov or call 1-800-FED-INFO (333-4636).