| VA Breach Resolution Guide and Veteran's Freeze Information |
ATTENTION ALL VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL.
PLEASE SEND US AN E-MAIL AT:
vasecuritybreach@identitytheftvictims.us
WITH YOUR CITY AND STATE IF YOU WERE SUCCESSFUL IN FREEZING YOUR CREDIT BUREAU FILES IN YOUR STATE BY USING THE INFORMATION WE HAVE PROVIDED.
SINCE OUR ORGANIZATION HAS HAD LITTLE SUCCESS IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT THROUGH THE NATIONAL MEDIA, WE HAVE HAD TO RELY ON EACH OTHER, TO PASS THE WORD TO OUR FELLOW VETERAN BROTHER'S AND SISTER'S.
THANK YOU
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| A SALUTE TO OUR VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE MILITARY PERSONNEL |
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VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION SECURITY BREACH
MAY 3RD, 2006
An estimated 26.5 million U.S. military veterans may be at higher risk for identity theft because personal data about them was stolen from a Veterans Administration employee who improperly took the material home. The data stolen included such sensitive information as names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth about veterans or veterans’ spouses. Armed with this information, a crook could easily open fraudulent new accounts for credit or services.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU ARE A VETERAN, ACTIVE DUTY OR RESERVE MILITARY PERSONNEL?
If you meet the requirements of the nineteen states listed below, you can "Freeze Your Credit Bureau Files.
A security freeze lets consumers stop thieves from getting credit in their names. A security freeze locks, or freezes, access to the consumer credit report and credit score. Without this information, a business will not issue new credit to a thief. When the consumer wants to get new credit, he or she uses a PIN to unlock access to the credit file. These states give consumers this important weapon to prevent identity theft:
NOTE: There is two types of Freeze Laws. One applies to all consumers (ALL) and one applies to "Victims Only" (VO). Each of the following states are currently on the list for military personnel to use (Veterans, Active Duty, Reserves):
Alaska and Hawaii (Only available to Active Duty Military stationed in Alaska and Hawaii). Since Alaska and Hawaii is considered an overseas assignment, use the provisions of the "Soldiers and Sailors Act" by using your home of record as your residence. If your home of record in listed below, then you can 'Freeze Your Credit Bureau Files" with the applicable state if your state law is in force (See Effective Dates).
California (all), Colorado (all), Connecticut (all), Delaware (all) Effective 10/9/06, Florida (all). Hawaii (VO), Effective 1/1/07, Illinois (VO-prior to 1/1/07), (All A/O 1/1/07), Kansas (VO)Effective 1/1/07, Kentucky (all).
Louisiana (all), Maine (all), Minnesota (all), Nevada (all), New Hampshire (all) Effective 1/1/07, New Jersey (all), New York (all), Effective 11/1/06, North Carolina (all), Oklahoma (all) Effective 1/1/07, Rhode Island (all), Effective 1/1/07, South Dakota (VO), Texas (VO), Utah (all), Effective 1/1/08, Vermont (all), Washington (VO), (also applies to notice of security breaches), and Wisconsin (all), Effective 1/1/07. The above states (19) are currently in force for veterans, reserves and active duty military personnel to use as of 11/1/06.
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NATIONWIDE FREEZE LAWS
There is ninteen (19) states with freeze laws and another six (6) states has passed legislation but their effective dates are in January 2007 or later.
The importance of this incident report is critical to the law enforcement community nationwide. This report will relieve the law enforcement agencies in twenty-five (25) states from taking police reports pertaining to the VA Security Breach. Military members in the other twenty-five (25) states will have to use the "Credit Bureau Fraud Alert System" currently in place (see procedures below).
If you have been a "Victim of Identity Theft" from other security breaches or your information was stolen via mail, stolen purses, skimming or phising via the internet, then you must file a police report with your local law enforcement personnel. If your state has freeze laws (See state listings above), you can follow the same procedures listed below.
As of July 11, 2006, this report will be made available to all Veterans, Active Duty Military Personnel, and Reserve Personnel residing in the seventeen states listed below. Active Duty personnel that are serving overseas (Includes Hawaii and Alaska) can also place a "security freeze" on their credit bureau files if their "Home of Record" is in one of the states listed above (Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act).
SPECIAL NOTE: Kansas (VO) and (1/1/07), New Hampshire (1/1/07), Oklahoma (1/1/07), Rhode Island (1/1/07, Utah (9/1/08), Wisconsin (1/1/07). "Freeze Law" effective dates are in brackets so state laws are not available in these six (6) states now.
All other states listed above apply to all consumers. See instructions below for all veterans, active duty and reserves that do not have freeze laws.
The new "State Credit Bureau Freeze Laws" will quickly give active duty military members and veterans more control over who has access to their credit report, thus helping to reduce the risk of identity theft. When a consumer places a security freeze on their credit report, this prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing the consumer's credit report or credit score without the express authorization of the consumer. A security freeze will remain on your credit report until you request it to be removed.
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The following information is solely for the use of veterans, reservist, and active duty military personnel which were part of the information that was breached by the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C. on May 3rd, 2006.
Anyone other than these members using these web page documents to freeze their personnel credit bureau files, would be in violation of both state and federal laws.
If you are not one of these members, please exit this web page.
Thank you.
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| FOR OUR VETERANS & ACTIVE DUTY MEN & WOMEN IN UNIFORM |
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If you are a veteran, reservist or and active duty military personnel member and you are using these documents to freeze your credit bureau files, we need your help.
Our organization is not supported by any corporation. We rely on support from our members and consumers who use our site to learn and prevent themselves from becoming "Victims of Identity Theft". We still have many more veterans to protect from this security breach.
By hitting the yes button, you can choose to make a small donation of $10 to $50 to help others. These monies will be set aside to help other verterans, reservist and active duty military personnel.
Thank you very much for your support.
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PROCEDURES FOR FREEZING CREDIT BUREAU FILES
To place a security freeze on your credit report, you must contact each of the three major credit reporting agencies in writing (See exception below). Each credit reporting agency has specific information that you must include in your letter.
See Consumer Union link below to see if your state requires notification to all three credit bureau's or notification to just one. If your state requires only one, they will share your freeze notification with the other two credit reporting agencies. Please go to web site: www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html
If you place a security freeze on your credit report, it will not affect your right to a free copy of your credit report. For information on how to receive a free copy of your credit report, visit your state's Attorney General website and look under "Consumer Alerts" or "Identity Theft". You can also go to:
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DETAIL STEPS ON FREEZING BUREAU FILES
The following information is provided to assist you in freezing your credit bureau files. Depending on where you reside or where your home of record is at (Active Duty), fees will charged for each credit bureau (3). Again, depending on each state law, those fees could be between free and $30.00 for victims or non-victims for each bureau freeze. Please go to consumer union link above to see what fees your state is charging. If you have any questions concerning these steps, please contact our organization at:
idtheftfeedback@identitytheftvictims.us
1. Run your credit bureau files at Experian, Equifax or TransUnion by going to:
www.annualcreditreport.com
Do not run all three credit bureaus unless you find major problems with accounts you have not opened. This is your free credit annual credit report required by law. "Do Not Pay" for credit reports. If you want your credit scores, you have to pay a fee of $5.95-$9.95. Review all items carefully and dispute anything you feel is wrong, even job history and your current and former addresses.
2. Click on "Word Document Logos" below and print these three documents below:
Veterans Administration Security Breach Notification Letter
Montgomery County, Md. VA Security Breach Police Report
Veterans Security Freeze Letter - Experian (modify letter for your personal information) and don't forget to enclose electric bill, or other documents listed on letter at bottom.
3. Send all your information to either one credit bureau or all three credit bureau's (See your state law requirements) via certified mail, return receipt requested.
4. For example, Texas State Law requires the credit bureau to freeze your files in five (5) business days. They are also required to send you a confirmation and a four-digit (4) security code in ten (10) business days. Again, check your state laws for time frames.
5. Once you freeze your credit bureau files, you can go to:
https://www.experian.com/consumer/cac/InvalidateSession.do?code=THAW
and fill out the on-line form to temporarily lift your freeze. Make sure you use the "ANOTHER TIME FRAME BOX SELECTION" and use the "From Dates" to the "To Dates". Once the "To Dates" expire, your credit bureau files automatically refreeze's.
6. If you have any problems "Freezing Your Credit Bureau Accounts" with the information provided, please contact us via E-Mail at:
vasecuritybreach@identitytheftvictims.us
Thank you.
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Veterans Administration Breach Notification Letter | Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348
*Must send the letter certified mail. Payment may be by check, money order or credit card; Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover only. If paying by credit card, you must provide the name of the card, account number and expiration date.
Click here to download a sample form letter.
Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
*Must send the letter certified mail. Payment may be made by check, money order or credit card. If paying by credit card, you must provide the card name, account number and expiration date.
Click here to download a sample form letter.
Trans Union Security Freeze
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
*Must send the letter certified mail. Payment must be made by credit card only. You must provide the name of the card, account number and expiration date.
Click here to download a sample form letter.
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Veteran Police Letter - Montgomery County Police Dept. |
Veterans Security Freeze Letter - Experian Credit Bureau |
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