I got a letter from the VA today...

Yeah, I sort of had a new ID thing in my mind as a solution that might be proposed. It's an awefully convenient way to introduce a new form of ID "for your protection."

Conspiracy or not, this is messed up.

Yeah, and I wish Chase bank would lose my information, man that bill has grown out of control. They probably have that information backed up 3 or 4 times, and guarded behind missle proof walls.

Troy

[edit on 9-6-2006 by cybertroy]

I got a letter in the mail today, from "the secretary of veterans affairs washington".
Not sure what we can do about this, but I would feel alot better if it was the veterans like us who were working at the VA or something...

I've to go chillout, because before was just pissed, but now I'm border line hostile.

Right there with you Advisor. I got mine too.

GRRRRRRRRRRR!

Dave

Oh, bum.

That means someone has my data too. I havent gotten a letter yet, but then again I doubt the VA knows where I currently live.

Still, thats my SSN, date of birth, photos, dna, medical records, personal data in some unknown morons hands.

Gee, Im sleeping better already. Way to go, VA, as if you couldnt stuff things up anyworse. Youve proved me wrong yet again.

mod edit: censor circumvention

[edit on 13-6-2006 by sanctum]

You just might be onto something there ADVISOR. Could be a real solution to a lot of issues.

How about a massive demonstration by veterans in the capital? Or a class action lawsuit?

I agree with advisor though. Im sure the quality of VA services in general would improve if we actually had veterans running more of it.

My experience with the VA was less than pleasant, and found more help from private veterans groups.

Well I join the party . . . my husband got his VA letter, he was send via E-mail to his work a warning also prior to the letter.

Got My Letter today...

Oh Yay, My info is out there.

So now what, just sit back and wait ?

So what are you all going to do about this? I was never in the military (though I came DAMN close to joining just months before the invasion of Iraq) but if I was, I would be absolutely livid (as you all apparently are). What exactly can be done about this? One poster mentioned a class-action lawsuit... this is just unbelievable.

What a frightening thing.

*ponders*

so you all got your letters saying that they lost your identity and that they no longer know for sure who you are...

are they still paying your benifits? (and if so, HOW do they know who to pay?)

can you still use the va hospital and other services? (and if so, how do they know you are who you are and are allowed to use such services?)

this is whack...

and lawsuit time.... what's the going rate for an identity on the open market these days? They lost something of yours that has tangible value...

mmph.
bah.
phooey.

I am afraid this issue can never be closed or fixed
Identity is becoming more and more important in todays credit ATM society, and the security of that identity is what makes things get done quickly/smoothly...

"If we loose this security, then much of our economy crumbles, so of course we need chip based Identity proof...
wouldn't you want to be able to easily prove who you are?
Aren't wallets a pain, anyway?
why wouldn't you be willing to accept a little rice sized chip, that can prevent all that mess?"

Just sew it up in your arm/hand, you will never even notice it...

So guys... what do we do when the market switches to bloody mangled detached arm/hand identity theft?
do we go back to the good old days when someone robs you, and you get to keep all your body parts?

the better solution to identity theft, since it can and will happen no matter how good of security you have, is to have one federal office, that does nothing but give new social security numbers, tied to only specific instances of your previous identity.

In other words, if you could prove identity theft, you could get a new identity (ss#) for a price, and connect it to your previous identity, but only with the credit transactions that were actually yours...

I recieved the letter yesterday. 26. something million VA records were stolen. And we're not to worry. Apparently, the authorities figure the thieves weren't looking for all those highly salable Social Security numbers. But, you know what scares me, is that my identity won't be stolen. I'd like some asshole walk a mile in my shoes....even if just to Walmart.

And what I like best is that the government sent out 26 million letters warning us not to worry. They should at least enclosed some money in the letters for old times sake if nothing else...

I recieved my letter last Friday. What cracked me up is that they said that they had to contact the IRS to obtain my address. They have no problem with my address when they send the letters threatening my status if I don't go for an evaluation on my shoulder twice a year. The really funny part is that I have to go to the local VA hospital, sign for my medical record, they then put my record into a locked box, then I ride a bus down to the hospital in Pittsburgh, wait several hours for my appointment, wait until everybody else who rode the bus is done with their appointment, ride the bus back to the local hospital and sign my record back in. If I don't make an appointment this lets the VA off the hook for my shoulder. What pisses me off is that I work 5 minutes from the hospital in Pittsburgh and have to burn a vacation day to keep the appointment.

My husband got his letter in the mail yesterday.

I got that letter too and what ticked me off so much about it is in it they make out like they are so concerned and are doing everything they can. If my memory serves me correctly, didn't they wait 2 bloody weeks before informing the FBI? If I hear anything about that class action lawsuit I am joining. Not, with my credit ratings, that theives would get anything from it besides calls from collectors, still.

I just ahd a brain storm...lets all swap identies, open up accounts in each others names, run up massive debts and bring the whole bloody credit system crashing to its knees. I am joking of course, but ya know in the long run these repeated massive identity thefts are going to do exactly that.

I too received my two-page letter that informed me of my new "public" status. I have heard of a couple of veterans groups that have filed class-action (guess the lawyers are smelling blood)...

If the original "thief" did not realize what "he" had procured....he does now!

K

Hey Jonke05.....

Even though the government is playing this like a "To Catch A Thief" scenerio and that the person was just after the Laptop..... it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that somewhere along the line it is figured out JUST HOW VALUABLE the Laptop now is.

Dave

Do they really expect us to believe this?
China attacks.
“Who’s got the lap top with the reserves?
What do you mean you lost it?
Ok! tell Chine the wars off!”
and as for chips.
you get hold of the data, and that could not happen!.
and make your own chips.
Hay your safer now the government dos not have your records.

[edit on 13/6/06 by caineunholy]

Lawsuit yes, I was thinking more so against the VA though. It may not be legal to do what I would like to. This in my opinion is worse than leaking the names of secret agents. This is a list of every individual who was and is a DoD expert of war fighting.