Important Information
Credit Report Agencies
Army Guard to inform members of data loss
ARLINGTON, Va., (8/4/09) - Members of the Army National Guard who could be affected by the theft of a laptop containing their personal data, will be notified through an official letter, Guard officials said here today.
About 131,000 former and current Army Guard members could be affected by the data loss, which occurred July 27 when a personal laptop owned by an Army Guard contractor was stolen, said Randy Noller, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau.
The stolen laptop contained personal information on Soldiers enrolled in the Army National Guard Bonus and Incentives Program. The type of data includes names, Social Security Numbers, incentive payment amounts and payment dates.
The Army Guard will inform those Guard members who are determined to be impacted by this incident by mailing a letter to them, Noller said. He added that notification of all individuals should be completed by next week.
What Does Identity Theft Mean?
Identity theft is the crime of obtaining the personal or financial information of another person for the sole purpose of assuming that person's name or identity in order to make transactions or purchases.
Or some basics from the 'Identity Theft Victims Guide': http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm
How to protect yourself
The following is from the Federal Trade Commission website: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/detect.html
You should monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis. You should also stay alert for the signs of identity theft, like:
- Accounts you didn't open and debts on your accounts that you can't explain.
- Fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit reports, including accounts and personal information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers.
- Failing to receive bills or other mail. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.
- Receiving credit cards that you didn't apply for.
- Being denied credit, or being offered less favorable credit terms, like a high interest rate, for no apparent reason.
- Getting calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you didn't buy.
Early detection of a potential identity theft can make a big difference. Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity by routinely monitoring:
Your financial statements. Monitor your financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking closely for charges you did not make.
Your credit reports. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and how you pay your bills. The law requires each of the major nationwide consumer reporting agencies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. If an identity thief is opening credit accounts in your name, these accounts are likely to show up on your credit report. To find out, order a copy of your credit reports.
