New resources help Veterans prevent identity theft

Identity theft is a problem in this country, and it’s not going away any time soon. With technology becoming more engrained in our lives each year, our information is more accessible than ever. If it’s not properly protected, criminals can wreak havoc on our financial and personal well-being.  According to Javelin’s 2013 Identity Fraud Report, identity theft occurred in the U.S. once every three seconds in 2013, costing Americans more than $21 billion.

Veterans are not immune to these threats, but there are ways to make it harder for cyber criminals to steal your identity. VA is making a push to give Veterans the knowledge they need to keep identity thieves at bay.

VA’s identity theft prevention campaign, More Than a Number, aims to educate Veterans and their beneficiaries on identity theft prevention. The campaign has two resources that are now available—an informational website  and a toll-free help line: 1-855-578-5492.

The help line, available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 8p.m. ET, provides Veterans and their families a more personalized platform to find assistance and information on identity theft. The More Than a Number website houses identity theft prevention tips, next steps for identity theft victims, interactive media and links to some of the best identity theft prevention resources on the Web. Visitors to the site can also learn about some major initiatives that VA is using to help protect Veterans’ identities.

Don’t wait until it is too late to protect yourself from identity theft! Visit the More Than a Number website, or call the help line to take charge in safeguarding your identity.

Stanley F. Lowe is the Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Security. Under Lowe’s direction, VA’s Office of Information Security works to prevent and mitigate the impact of any impending threats to VA’s IT infrastructure. He oversees the management of VA’s information security officers, cyber security program, privacy program, incident management and response capabilities, security operations, and business continuity efforts.

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