HEADLINE: TEXAS VETERAN PUTS THE FREEZE ON 12 MILLION VETERAN CREDIT BUREAU FILES
Lawrence Wilson (Vietnam Veteran, USAF), Director of “Identity Theft Victims Support Group of North America" (Plano, Texas), is pleased to announce the following statement:
In cooperation with the "Montgomery County Police Department of Rockville, Maryland" (Ms. Peggy M. Lyles, Deputy Custodian of Records), is pleased to announce the release of the police report (See statement below) for the Veterans Administration Security Breach of May 3rd, 2006.A partial statement is as follows: "Our police report number for this incident is XXXXX24 (This information will be made available on our web site, Sept. 30, 2006). Please accept this case number as verification that the incident occurred and a police report was written. Because this is an open and ongoing investigation, the actual police report will not be released at this time (Ms. Peggy M. Lyles)".
We have three national credit bureaus that control the credit scores of every American that has a “Social Security Number” (Governed by Federal Law). Since Congress has not enacted a “National Freeze Law” to protect all Americans, our organization used existing state laws to help veterans and active duty personnel protect their credit files by giving them an option to “Freeze Their Credit Files”. Our organization has set a precedent in Texas by freezing credit bureau files for veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel whose data was part of the "Veteran Administration Security Breach" on May 3rd, 2006 in Washington D.C. of 26.5 (Based upon VA Internal Records on File at the Time of Breach) million veterans and 2.2 million active duty military personnel.
By utilizing the current "Credit Bureau Freeze Laws" that exist in seventeen (17) states (24 states after January 01, 2007), our organization actions makes it possible for approximately twelve (12) million veterans to have the option of "TO FREEZE OR NOT TO FREEZE" their personal credit bureau files. On January 1, 2007, that number will grow to approximately fifteen (15) million. Of the 2.2 million active duty members, their option to freeze will be based upon their "Home of Record" state. If their "Home of Record" is one of the twenty-four (24) states, then they can freeze their files. If they are not, then the only option available to them is an "Active Duty Fraud Alert" placed on one of the three national credit bureau agencies.
As of September 30, 2006 (Updating web site), this report will be made available to all Veterans, Active Duty Military Personnel and Reserve Personnel residing in the seventeen states listed below. Active Duty personnel that are serving overseas (Includes Hawaii and Alaska) can also place a "security freeze" on their credit bureau files if their "Home of Record" is in one of the states listed below. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii (VO), Illinois (VO), Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota (VO), Texas (VO), Vermont, and Washington (VO). The above states (17) are currently in force for veterans to use. SPECIAL NOTE: Delaware (Effect 9/28/06), Kansas (VO) and (1/1/07), New Hampshire (1/1/07), New York (11/1/06), Oklahoma (1/1/07), Rhode Island (9/28/06), Utah (9/1/08), Wisconsin (1/1/07). "Freeze Law" effective dates are in brackets so state laws are not available in these eight (8) states now. The importance of this incident report is critical to the law enforcement community nationwide. This report will relieve the law enforcement agencies in twenty-five (25) states from taking police reports pertaining to the VA Security Breach. Military members in the other twenty-five (25) states will have to use the "Credit Bureau Fraud Alert System" currently in place. The new "State Credit Bureau Freeze Laws" will quickly give active duty military members and veterans more control over who has access to their credit report, thus helping to reduce the risk of identity theft. When a consumer places a security freeze on their credit report, this prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing the consumer's credit report or credit score without the express authorization of the consumer. A security freeze will remain on your credit report until you request it to be removed. If you have been a "Victim of Identity Theft" from other security breaches or your information was stolen via mail, stolen purses, skimming or phising via the internet, then you must file a police report with your local law enforcement personnel.
To place a security freeze on your credit report, you must contact each of the three major credit reporting agencies in writing (See exception below). Each credit reporting agency has specific information that you must include in your letter.
See Consumer Union link below to see if your state requires notification to all three credit bureaus or notification to just one. Please go to web site:
If you place a security freeze on your credit report, it will not affect your right to a free copy of your credit report. For information on how to receive a free copy of your credit report, go to:
Thank you for your support during this critical time concerning the VA Security Breach. If you are not a current or former military member just remember, "Identity Theft Is No Longer Someone Else's Problem, It Is Everyone's Problem". Just ask the 40 million plus victims that has filed with the FTC, Choice Point Breach, and one of the latest breaches at AIG (1 million). Being a "Victim of Identity Theft" is no longer a question of "IF" but "WHEN".
Thank you.
Lawrence (Larry) E. Wilson Director Identity Theft Victims Support Group of North America www.identitytheftvictims.us
214-883-3164
† Copyright 2003-2013, Wilson Unlimited Partners, L.L.C. All rights reserved†
You can send your ID Theft Victim Stories to : Identity Theft Victims U.S., Attention: Victim Stories, P.O. Box 2723, Wylie, TX. 75098-2723
