Va Announces Theft Of Data On 26 Million Veterans

[Guest DON20906]

VA Secretary Nicholson just concluded a conference call with major veterans' and military service organizations to tell them that a VA data analyst took home the names, social security numbers and dates of birth on over 26 million veterans and others to work from home. The data analyst's home was burglarized and the computer and/or storage media containing the data was stolen. Local police, the FBI and VA's Inspector General believe the burglars were after computer harddware and do not know what they have. VA is going public with this in a press release later today.

Edited May 22, 2006 by DON20906

[john999]

How about a class action lawsuit? How many laws were violated by the employee taking home that information? He will probably get promoted. Do all vets have to show harm done to sue. Maybe the NSA did the theft.

[Pete53]

Well that really sucks.

[Guest DON20906]

NSA? Sue? You can't be serious. The analyst is on administrative leave. I'd hate to be him/her right about now.

How about a class action lawsuit? How many laws were violated by the employee taking home that information? He will probably get promoted. Do all vets have to show harm done to sue. Maybe the NSA did the theft.

[Pete53]

http://www.va.gov/

VA warns about the theft.

NSA? Sue? You can't be serious. The analyst is on administrative leave. I'd hate to be him/her right about now.

[john999]

Don

If your identity is stolen and it costs you thousands of dollars to set it right due to a VA employee who should pay for that? I was kidding about the NSA. What is the value of 26 million sets of vital statistics and SSA numbers? Our privacy rights have been breached in a gross manner that could end up costing us vets millions of dollars. Someone could be selling your identity right now due to this VA screw up.

[Guest DON20906]

I agree, but no one's been harmed yet. If there is some mass identity theft, I'm sure the feds would have to do something to compensate those harmed. Can a class action can be filed under FTCA? I doubt it because FTCA is an administrative remedy. Was the analyst performing his official duties by taking the work home? That's one criteria for an FTCA claim. Be interesting to find out.

Nicholson said "hopefully nothing will come of this," but VA is being proactive by going public right away. They will be sending out letters to everyone to they can who could possibly be effected, retraining employees, will be data-mining beneficiaries' EFT info looking for change patterns, hooking up with credit bureaus, the FTC. There will be an info link on www.firstgov.gov and an 800 number to call for info.

This is a HUGE embarrassment for VA coming a week before Memorial Day; it's all over the news here in DC, already. Here's the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 22, 2006

A Statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently learned that an employee, a data analyst, took home electronic data from VA, which he was not authorized to do. This behavior was in violation of our policies. This data contained identifying information including names, social security numbers, and dates of birth for up to 26.5 million veterans and some spouses, as well as some disability ratings. Importantly, the affected data did not include any of VA’s electronic health records nor any financial information. The employee’s home was burglarized and this data was stolen. The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

Appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the VA Inspector General’s office, have launched full-scale investigations into this matter. Authorities believe it is unlikely the perpetrators targeted the items because of any knowledge of the data contents. It is possible that they remain unaware of the information which they possess or of how to make use of it. However, out of an abundance of caution, VA is taking all possible steps to protect and inform our veterans.

VA is working with members of Congress, the news media, veterans service organizations, and other government agencies to help ensure that those veterans and their families are aware of the situation and of the steps they may take to protect themselves from misuse of their personal information. VA will send out individual notification letters to veterans to every extent possible. Veterans can also go to www.firstgov.gov to get more information on this matter. This website is being set to

-More-

Statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs // 2

handle increased web traffic. Additionally, working with other government agencies, VA has set up a manned call center that veterans may call to get information about this situation and learn more about consumer identity protections. That toll free number is 1-800-FED INFO (333-4636). The call center will be open beginning today, and will operate from 8 am to 9 pm (EDT), Monday-Saturday as long as it is needed. The call center will be able to handle up to 20,000 calls per hour (260,000 calls per day).

Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson has briefed the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, co-chairs of the President’s Identity Theft Task Force. Task Force members have already taken actions to protect the affected veterans, including working with the credit bureaus to help ensure that veterans receive the free credit report they are entitled to under the law. Additionally, the Task Force will meet today to coordinate the comprehensive Federal response, recommend further ways to protect affected veterans, and increase safeguards to prevent the reoccurrence of such incidents. VA’s mission to serve and honor our nation’s veterans is one we take very seriously and the 235,000 VA employees are deeply saddened by any concern or anxiety this incident may cause our veterans and their families. We appreciate the service our veterans have given their country and we are working diligently to protect them from any harm as a result of this incident.

# # #

Don

If your identity is stolen and it costs you thousands of dollars to set it right due to a VA employee who should pay for that? I was kidding about the NSA. What is the value of 26 million sets of vital statistics and SSA numbers? Our privacy rights have been breached in a gross manner that could end up costing us vets millions of dollars. Someone could be selling your identity right now due to this VA screw up.