SCAMS TARGET VETERANS FOR IDENTITY THEFT

ArmyLINK News Story
armylinknews_sender@DTIC.MIL

Text Version by Staff Sgt. Marcia Triggs WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 22, 2002)

An e-mail circulating about a retiree who had his identity stolen after filing separation papers at a county courthouse is no urban legend, according to Transition Center officials.

Soldiers separating from the military are now being advised to ignore the old recommendation to file their Department of Defense Form 214 (Military Discharge) with their local county courthouse. Instead, transition counselors are advising soldiers to safeguard their personal information to guard against credit fraud, said Deborah Snider, Transition Center personnel analyst at the U.S. Total Army Personnel Command.

Between 600,000 to 700,000 cases of identity theft were reported by the Federal Trade Commission in 2000. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime today, according to the FTC, and many victims don’t find out that their personal information has been stolen until they are trying to buy a house or get a loan.