Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/millions-of-veterans-at-risk-of-identity-fraud-following-data-theft Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript In response to the disclosure that the personal information of more than 26 million U.S. veterans had been stolen almost three weeks ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs has created a call center to inform potential victims about consumer identity protection. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. RAY SUAREZ: The identities of 26.5 million U.S. veterans are at risk after thieves stole electronic files from a Veterans Affairs employee's house outside Washington May 3rd. The data includes Social Security numbers and birth dates, enough information to commit fraud. MARK RASCH, Security Expert: If I have your name, your date of birth, and your Social Security number, I can become you for establishing credit, for getting credit cards, for opening bank accounts. RAY SUAREZ: The theft, which was announced yesterday, represents the largest unauthorized disclosure of Social Security information so far. Most of the files were of veterans who served and have been discharged since 1975. The federal government has launched an investigation into the theft.Attorney General Alberto Gonzales spoke to reporters today. ALBERTO GONZALES, U.S. Attorney General: We have no reason to believe that people understand — that the thieves understand what kind of information that they have and whether or not they've taken advantage of that. We don't know whether or not they've thrown away the information. RAY SUAREZ: The V.A. employee who took the files home has been put on leave. Some veterans said that's not enough. PAT TORO, Veteran: As a former detective, OK, I'm very concerned, because I know what can be done with the information. MIKE HICKEY, Veteran: You know, identity theft, wind up with a bunch of bills or God knows what. I'm not really sure what they would do with the information other than rob people. RAY SUAREZ: The V.A. theft is the latest in a series of high-profile identity theft cases. In February 2005, Bank of America announced it lost computer files with the personal information of 1.2 million federal employees. And in 2004, ChoicePoint, an Atlanta company that collects and sells personal information, revealed thieves gained access to its information on some 145,000 people nationwide.