Trudy

My ebenefits account was hacked this month (July 2019). I logged on and was prompted to change password, did what I had to do and logged off. Little while later noticed an email from the VA but I was busy and unfortunately I didn’t pay close attention. Thinking back I think I assumed it was an email confirmation that I changed passwords. However, 3 days later I am deleting emails and I see the VA email saying my direct deposit had been updated. Knowing I had not done this I went to log into my account and my password had been changed along with my challenge questions. So who ever got into my account did so directly after I changed my password that day. Coincidence? I don’t know but it’s weird. When I finally got access to my account my direct deposit had been deleted for both my disability and gi bill.I called the VA to report it and I honestly thought I caught it in time because it was the 23rd, but I was told the cut off was the 20th and it had been changed on the 19th. So the check was set in stone to go to the fraudulent account. The rep filed a report and told me to call back on the 1st when I didn’t get my funds. She told me until I actually didn’t get the check is when it becomes a theft. She also told me that 99% percent of the time when an account is hacked it happens the day before the checks are set up to go out. So if the veteran catches it, it is still to late to do anything about it. She explained that they set the deposits up each month on different days, it’s never the same day each month, but she said it’s like they have the info on what day is the cut off to change checking accounts. Well it really sucks this happened and for all those saying you should have a better password, well my password was not an easy one to guess and all my challenge questions were made up answers. For example what was your 1st job? I literally put a strip club lmbo... Anyways best of luck to anyone reading this and had your money stolen, especially if you depend on it for your bills. One more thing you also need to consider going online to the 3 major credit reporting agencies and putting a freeze on your credit, and place a fraud alert. Change your email, bank account, telephone number because they got more than your money, they had access to your whole life and unfortunately depending what all they looked at they had access to your medical records and your listed dependents were exposed. The link below will direct you on how to put a freeze on your credit and it’s easy so I would definitely do it. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/09/free-credit-freezes-are-here