Personal Data on Veterans is Stolen

More than 26 million veterans are at risk for identity theft after a Veterans Affairs career analyst lost an electronic data file containing names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers, according to a story in today?s Washington Post. The lost data is being investigated as a burglary.

The data, which was reported missing on May 3, was taken from the Aspen Hill home of the unidentified VA analyst. Investigators believe that the burglary was a random occurrence, and that the data file was not the target of the break-in.

The theft could be the largest unauthorized disclosure of Social Security data. One expert mentioned in the Post?s story, who apparently believes that thieves don?t read newspapers, has said that affected veterans could be especially vulnerable to credit card fraud if the burglars realize the value of the data.

You can read more about this story, as well as ways to protect against identity theft, at Personal Data on Veterans is Stolen