When in Doubt, Blame Teens

Jackie Mason | June 9, 2006
[hidden by request]

Lori Lancaster | June 9, 2006
[hidden by request]

Amy Austin | June 12, 2006
Anyone else here get a letter from the VA (via the IRS) about this? (Mike? Dave?)

Ironically, an active duty friend of mine called me out of the blue last night, and we were discussing this topic -- he told me he had received a letter and wanted to know if I had gotten one. I told him "no", but I was wondering if/when it would hit close to home... and I asked him if he knew anyone else affected -- two or three other guys from his clinic had also gotten letters. We joked about his being part of a club (since he's still active-duty and now getting twice screwed), and I said, "yeah, the butt-fuck club"!

Well, I guess I'm now officially a member (got mine in the mail today)... and I'm also really wondering if they know exactly who all may be affected, or if the entire active duty/veteran force can all expect such a letter eventually... just so that we've all been informed.

Mike Eberhart | June 12, 2006
Nope, I haven't received a thing. I'll let you know if I do though. What's the letter say?

Amy Austin | June 13, 2006
Well, I can't tell if it came from the Washington VA (as in, "State of" -- where I and my friend both formerly served... although he is in HI now) or DC -- the header on the first page just says "THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WASHINGTON" w/ a Dept of VA seal in the upper left hand corner. It's addressed "Dear Veteran:" (although, the envelope had my name and current address on it, and the letter says that this is courtesy of the IRS, since they have the current addresses, not the VA), and it's obviously just a CYA form letter informing me of the same info in the article Jackie linked and saying to keep a close watch on personal/financial matters for any possible suspicious activity... but that there's no need to be "proactive" (I know how some dislike this "neologism" -- hence the quotes) in contacting any financial institutions to cancel cards, change account numbers, etc.

Second page is just a 9-item FAQ page, front and back, giving contact information of various sorts (such as where to call in reports, etc.)... the catch-all #9 being the following:

Where can I get further, up-to-date information?

The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up a special website and a toll-free telephone number for veterans which features up-to-date news and information. Please visit www.firstgov.gov or call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636).

Mike Eberhart | June 13, 2006
Hmm, sounds pretty standard. Definately a CYA letter.

Amy Austin | June 30, 2006
Some good news, I guess...

(link)

Scott Horowitz | July 3, 2006
hehe, misread this and thought it said "When in doubt, blame Texas"

Erik Bates | July 3, 2006
[hidden by request]

Aaron Shurtleff | July 3, 2006
It's not really mentioned in this article, but I hear that the FBI is 100% positive the files in question were never ever ever accessed by anyone who shouldn't have, cross-our-hearts-and-hope-to-die, so that's really the important part, not just the finding of the laptop.

...unless you don't believe the FBI, of course, but who could distrust a government agency? :)

Amy Austin | July 4, 2006
...hence the "I guess" part of my preface. ;-)

Jackie Mason | July 5, 2006
[hidden by request]

Kris Weberg | July 6, 2006
I had this "mass identity theft via laptop" thing happen to me twice in the space of a month -- once with the info in one of my grad school applications, and once with my bank!