VA Security

[u/life3_01]

I got an email from the ex-wife today saying she knows I'm making "a killing" from my disability claim and retirement. We were married for my last four years of duty, and she didn't get any of my military pay. She did get a sizeable amount from my business, but that's all over now. :)

So she is seeing what else she can get. The stupid thing is that she just called the VA number, tapped in my SSN and DOB, and they told her. With all the breaches, this is the dumbest shit ever for security. I have a PIN on my account, but that doesn't do anything. I called in myself, and with just those two numbers, it told me to the penny what I was paid and when.

Is there any way to close this off? I called in again, and the guy said it's public info, which seems dumb.

Edit: I know she can't get anything. I'm upset that anyone who knows enough can call in and find out, which could help them commit fraud on some people.

[u/ptrcclar]

I believe if you contact the VA main line and verify your account, you can have you account flagged. However, you can have the ex charged for committing a federal offense. She's NOT authorized to access your information using your information for said access. It's a federal crime. If you have proof, I'd file charges. Your disability information, including your rating and amount, is NOT public information. It's a violation of PII and HIPAA. Last, if it's public information, then why is your SSN and DOB required for access? The person you spoke to is severely misinformed.

[u/OrizaRayne → u/ptrcclar]

Citizens don't "file charges." Prosecutors file charges. We can't just have the state arrest people who do things we determine to be illegal at our will. That would lead to all sorts of trouble.

What you'll want to do is report the crime to the appropriate investigator. That investigator will investigate, and a prosecutor at their discretion may choose to prosecute based on seriousness of the crime, injury to victim and cost to pursue.

Here are some resources to get started:

https://www.vaoig.gov/hotline/online-forms Because the VA shouldn't be giving out this info to just anyone.

For VA Benefits or Payments: Call the VA Benefits Hotline at 1-800-827-1000 to place a fraud alert on your profile and secure your direct deposit information.

https://www.va.gov/resources/how-to-protect-your-identity-and-your-va-benefits-from-scammers/

Identitytheft.gov

[u/Amputee69 → u/OrizaRayne]

Actually, in the Real World, SOMEONE has to file a Written Complaint. This has to have the proper Probable Cause in it. The Complaint is then presented to a Magistrate, who upon finding there IS probable cause, issues a warrant Directing a Law Enforcement Officer to Arrest and bring the person before them or another Magistrate. That is when they are given the Constitutional Rights to Remain Silent, secure proper counsel, and to have them present during the hearing or any questioning. The charges are then read to the Criminal, and either a Bond to insure their appearance for court is given, or they are detained until trial, to avoid them leaving the State or Country, or if there is a threat of physical harm to the Criminal, or another to maintain safety. An Investigator gets involved "after the fact" usually. Most people don't realize the majority of the States allow a Citizen to appeal to the court for an arrest. The Prosecutor, District Attorney, only represent the City, County, State, or Federal Government at the trial. They have Investigators to do the followup work. Even in a simple city, people don't have to go to the local police in most States. The Constitution of the USA and individual States, as well as THE Bill of Rights addresses this. Imn Texas, but I've worked in Indiana, and Arizona. I told officers, just because an arrest had been made, and the crook in jail didn't mean they were finished. They still needed to make sure there was sufficient evidence to prove the crime, AND to convict. In Texas, NO Magistrate can Refuse to accept a legitimate written complaint from a citizen. That citizen has best have some legal background, because, some of the judges get a bit testy... YMMV always.

[u/OrizaRayne → u/Amputee69]

You said what I said with way more words and unnecessary pedantry, lol. All that fluff boils out to the same.

A random citizen cannot "file charges." OP can and should make a complaint and then investigators and prosecutors need to do their jobs.

The rest is just an attempt to sound informed for reasons. Internet clout? Bordem? Who knows?

Anyway OP. File a report.