Categories: Archived Blogs

Military Connection: New VA Site For ID Theft: By Debbie Gregory

In this era of online shopping, digital communication and mobile apps, thieves are more sophisticated, stealing your information instead of your wallet. And instead of mugging their victims, they hack into bank, shopping and social media accounts.

Veterans, due to their extensive travels and moves throughout their service, are at higher risk for identity theft. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to protecting Veteran information, maintaining an obligation to properly safeguard any Veteran’s personal information it possesses. The VA has implemented a multi-layered system to defend Veteran service and medical record from ever-evolving cyber security threats. Beyond this obligation, the VA is truly intent on helping Veterans ensure the security of their personal information.

On August 5, 2014, the VA’s Office of Information and Technology announced that it has launched a new initiative to educate Veterans about identity theft prevention. The new campaign, called “More Than a Number: Identity Theft Prevention,” refers to the personal information that VA encourages all Veterans to safeguard.

A major component of the campaign is the launching of the website www.va.gov/identitytheft. The site features educational information about identity theft, and how to best protect your confidential information. The page also contains interactive multimedia and links to other online identity theft prevention resources.

The VA’s “More Than a Number” campaign also includes a toll-free help line that offers support for Veterans, their beneficiaries and VA employees who have questions and concerns about identity theft. The toll-free number is 1-855-578-5492, and is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., EST.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.