This was sent my husband, who is a vet, from the VFW.... I can't confirm it's validity but I wanted to share it with you and hope it is valid.
June 7, 2006
To All Veterans, Servicemembers and Spouses:
I ask that you help notify others about the loss of personal information by the Department of Veterans Affairs, especially in light of VA’s announcement yesterday that the stolen data files also contained information on our nation’s 2.2 million military servicemen and women.
What we know to date is that personal information on 26.5 million veterans and active-duty, Guard and Reservists was stolen May 3 from the home of a VA employee who was not authorized to take such information home. The data consisted of names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and some home addresses, telephone numbers, disability ratings and spousal information.
Veterans and servicemembers should contact one of the three largest national consumer credit bureaus below and place a free three-month fraud alert on their files and, if married, their spouse’s files. The other two companies will be automatically informed of the fraud alert.
· Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, www.equifax.com
· Experian: 1-888-397-3742, www.experian.com
· TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289, www.transunion.com
We understand the VA is working with the national credit bureaus to develop a program that will extend credit protection at no cost. As I stated in a letter to all veterans last Friday, the VFW firmly believes it is the obligation of the U.S. Government to pay for any additional credit protection, to include assisting veterans — and now, servicemembers — should they become credit fraud victims.
I urge you to protect yourself and your families now, and I ask that you share this letter with others, to include older veterans who may not fully understand the ramifications of identity theft and fraud, and the families of our troops, especially those with loved ones deployed in harm’s way.
As always, we will continue to keep you informed as more details become known. Please check our website at www.vfw.org for updates. You may also call toll-free 1-800-FED-INFO (333-4636) or logon to www.firstgov.gov for additional information.
Yours in Comradeship,
JAMES R. MUELLER
Commander-in-Chief
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States