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VA Offers Free Credit Monitoring

Jun-22-2006 » Filed Under: General Military

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Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The government said Wednesday it would provide free credit monitoring to millions of veterans whose personal information was stolen last month, and it acknowledged it was not close to catching those responsible.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson said the agency would seek to protect veterans and military troops against identity theft after their names, Social Security numbers and birthdates were taken from a department data analyst's home on May 3.

Any of the 17.5 million people known to have had their Social Security numbers compromised will be eligible for one year of credit monitoring. The VA has said up to 26.5 million could be affected, although some appeared to be duplicate names.

The move is expected to cost millions of dollars. Credit monitoring on average costs $50 to $150 per person each year, although rates are often lower when purchased in bulk. That price tag is in addition to the $14 million the VA has spent to notify and assist veterans in what has become one of the nation's largest security breaches.

"It's not going to be cheap," Nicholson said at a news briefing, adding that authorities were no closer to finding the stolen data. "Free credit monitoring will help safeguard those who may be affected, and will provide them with the peace of mind they deserve."

For the latest news on the VA's Identity Theft, please go to http://www.military.com/identity


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