VA NEWS FLASH from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 08-02-2006 #1		  


 
 

IDENTITY THEFT HITS HOME: DETER, DETECT, DEFEND AND

BE PREPARED -- Excellent ID theft advice from

Army Captain David Whitman.

 


 Army Captain David Whitman

 

All information on VA data theft on this page...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/va%20data%20theft%20news.htm 

This is some of the best ID theft advice I have read.  Leave it to an Army JAG Officer to come up with the straight facts.

Story here... http://tradoc.monroe.army.mil/casemate/stack/072106spotlight.htm

Story below:

 

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Identity theft hits home

BY CAPT. DAVID WHITMAN
POST JUDGE ADVOCATE OFFICE



Recently, personal data records for over 25 million military veterans, retirees, and service members were temporarily lost when a Department of Veterans Affairs computer disk was stolen. During that time, many people suddenly had reason for concern about potential fraudulent misuses of their personal information.

The good news is that the lost disk was recovered, no one has reported their personal information being misused, and the FBI stated that it appeared that the data was not accessed while the disk was missing. But during those few weeks of uncertainty earlier this summer, the crime of identity theft became a realistic fear.

Identity theft is a serious crime where a person uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud and other crimes. The term “identity theft” is the shorthand given to a number of different crimes that can be committed by the misuse of another person’s personal information.

Often the person who commits identity theft steals money through business transactions, such as credit card purchases or writing personal checks.

So why is identity theft such a menace? Simply put, it is a difficult crime to deter or detect. It can occur without your knowledge; it can affect your credit for years to come; and it often takes considerable effort to clear your personal and financial records.

The good news is that there are things you can do to help ensure that you are not a victim of ID theft, to discover suspicious activity early, and to correct problems if you might be a victim. The Federal Trade Commission, which is one of the lead federal agencies in consumer fraud prevention programs, calls these steps “Deter, Detect and Defend.” All of these steps are based on the ideas of prudent self-protection and a good measure of common sense.

DETER

When it comes to ID theft, the saying that an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly holds true. Deterrence actions make it difficult for a potential criminal to get your personal information. Among the most basic and common things you should do include:

- Collect your mail on a timely basis, and if on vacation or TDY, request the post office to withhold delivery.

- Be sure to buy a shredder and use it to destroy all documents that contain personal information.

- Stop getting pre-screened credit offers in the mail by opting out of them. Federal law requires all credit reporting companies to honor such requests. You can opt out at http://www.optoutprescreen.com  or by telephone — (888) 5-OPTOUT.

- Reveal personally identifying information only when absolutely necessary, and, where possible, avoid giving your social security number with your date of birth.

- Avoid using easily decipherable PIN numbers, such as your address, date of birth, or the last four digits of your social security number. Use different PINs or passwords for different accounts.

- If you are going on extended TDY or deployment, have an active duty military alert, which lasts one year, placed on your credit reports to minimize the risks of ID theft while away.

DETECT

Just as important as prevention of ID theft is vigilance in looking for misuse of your information. Remember that timely detection soon after a problem occurs will make dealing with it many times easier than if you find out about it years later. Two basic steps to detect ID theft include:

First, read your existing bank and credit card accounts and be sure to follow up with that company if you find a questionable transaction.

Second, review your credit report three times per year. Federal law requires each national credit reporting agency to provide a free copy of your credit report annually.

You can get a free copy three times per year by rotating your request every four months among the three national credit reporting agencies.
To request a copy, visit http://annualcreditreport.com . This is the only Web site authorized by all three national credit reporting agencies for a free credit report.

DEFEND

If you find that you are a victim of potential ID theft, be sure to take action to correct records and protect your name and credit.

First, have a fraud alert put on your account with the credit agencies. While there are different types of alerts and entitlements associated with fraud alerts, each of them ensures that businesses carefully identify a customer using your information before completing a transaction.

Next, close any account that you know or believe has been accessed fraudulently. Be sure to alert each company of the situation, and provide copies of any documentation in your possession.

Also, be sure to file a complaint with both your local police and the Federal Trade Commission. This will help law enforcement around the country track and stop ID thieves.

Last, be prepared to deal with the consequences of these defensive actions by proving that you are the victim of ID fraud to businesses. They may require proof of identity, copies of police reports, and an ID theft affidavit, available from the FTC.

BE PREPARED

Perhaps the most important aspect for dealing with ID theft is to understand the crime, and that anyone can be a victim.

If you follow the strategy to deter, detect, and defend against ID theft, you can prevent the likelihood of being a victim. Following these steps can also ease the sting that this crime may bring.

For more information, visit the FTC’s consumer protection website at http://www.consumer.gov . If you need help in dealing with potential ID theft, be sure to seek legal counsel.

Servicemembers, retirees, and their dependents can get free help in navigating these issues from military legal assistance lawyers. The Fort Monroe Legal Assistance Office can be reached Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at 788-3616.

---------------

Larry Scott

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