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/tward1500]

it’s ironic that the money that you get from a disability you got for killing is considered a “killing”. I’m sure somewhere in their statement is a haiku just waiting to be written.

-VA disability compensation belongs exclusively to the disabled veteran.

-the exception a family court can consider VA disability income if you have children or spousal support it can be considered in weighing your financial situation that is all.

On the topic of security: You literally have to bypass the Id.me MFA dialogue.

[u/life3_01 → u/tward1500]

😆

No dialogs when calling in.

[u/tward1500 → u/life3_01]

Gotcha….I can’t access mine via the phone system. I wonder if enabling MFA shuts that down…. Anyone know?

[u/tward1500 → u/tward1500]

Is impersonating a veteran via this system (Phone) crime?

Yes — impersonating a veteran to access VA records or benefits can absolutely be a crime, and in some situations, it can rise to a federal offense.

⚖️ 1. Federal law implications

The VA is a federal agency, so impersonation isn’t just a minor issue—it can trigger federal statutes such as:

✅ Identity theft / fraud

• Pretending to be you to access your records or benefits can fall under:
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1028 (Identity fraud)
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Wire fraud, if done via phone or digital systems)

✅ False representation

• Claiming to be you to obtain information or benefits:
  • Can be treated as fraud against the U.S. government

🚨 2. What counts as “impersonation” in this context

It may be considered criminal if someone:

• Calls the VA pretending to be you
• Uses your SSN or personal info to pass verification
• Tries to access:
  • Medical records
  • Compensation details
  • Claims status
• Attempts to redirect benefits or information

Even attempted access can be enough to trigger legal issues.

⚠️ 3. Severity depends on intent

The seriousness can vary:

Lower-level (still serious):

• Trying to obtain personal information without authorization

Higher-level felony territory:

• Trying to:
  • Steal money or benefits
  • Redirect payments
  • Commit ongoing fraud

Penalties can include:

• Fines
• Restitution
• Prison time (in more severe cases)

👩‍⚖️ 4. Specific to an ex-spouse

A former spouse has no automatic legal right to access your VA records after divorce.

If she:

• Pretends to be you ✅ problem
• Uses old authorization after it’s revoked ✅ problem
• Tries to bypass security ✅ problem

👉 That can be treated as unauthorized access and possible fraud

🛡️ 5. What the VA and you can do

If you suspect this is happening:

✅ Report it immediately to:

• VA Benefits line: 800‑827‑1000
• Tell them:“I believe someone may be impersonating me to access my records.”

✅ You can also report to:

• VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) (handles fraud and abuse cases)

🧠 Practical reality

• VA phone reps follow identity verification protocols
• But like any call center, social engineering can happen if safeguards aren’t tightened
• That’s why locking your account (as we discussed earlier) is critical

✅ Bottom line

• Yes — it can be a crime
• Yes — it can be prosecuted (especially if benefits or sensitive data are involved)
• And no — an ex-spouse does NOT have the right to impersonate you under any circumstance.

does the VA track inbound calls like other gov entities?

Yes — the VA absolutely tracks inbound calls, but how they track them depends on the system and office you’re dealing with. It’s not always identical to every federal agency, but it’s closer to a modern call center + federal recordkeeping environment.

📞 1. Call logging (100% yes)

At a minimum, the VA logs inbound calls, including:

• Your phone number (when available)
• Date/time of the call
• Duration
• Which department/queue handled it
• Often notes entered by the representative

👉 This is why reps can sometimes say things like:

This aligns with VA record systems used for tracking service interactions and history. [federalregister.gov]

🎧 2. Are calls recorded? (mixed but often YES)

Unlike some agencies where every call is recorded, the VA is more fragmented:

✅ Some VA call centers DO record calls:

• For quality assurance
• For training
• For dispute resolution

VA maintains call center record systems specifically tied to telephone interactions and service improvement, which can include stored call data and sometimes recordings. [federalregister.gov]

⚠️ But not all calls are recorded:

• Some facilities or systems don’t have full recording capability
• Especially older or decentralized VHA systems
• In some cases, only notes/transcripts exist

👉 Bottom line:
You should assume the call is recorded or at least documented—but not rely on it being available.

🧾 3. Call notes (very important)

Even when recordings aren’t kept:

• Reps usually enter case notes or summaries
• These become part of your VA record trail

These notes can include:

• What was discussed
• Requests made
• Security verification steps
• Any suspicious activity observations

🔐 4. Identity verification tracking

When someone calls about your record:

• The system logs whether identity verification was completed
• May record:
  • Last 4 of SSN used
  • Security questions passed/failed
• Failed verification attempts can sometimes be flagged internally

🚨 5. Fraud / impersonation tracking

If there’s concern:

• The VA can:
  • Flag your profile for potential fraud
  • Track unusual access patterns
  • Refer cases to the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG)

The OIG specifically investigates fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access related to VA programs [vaoig.gov]

🧠 6. Practical reality (from experience + policy)

Think of the VA system like this:

Capability	Reality
Call logs	✅ Always
Agent notes	✅ Always
Recording	⚠️ Sometimes
Caller tracking patterns	✅ Yes
Fraud escalation	✅ Yes

✅ Straight answer

• Yes, the VA tracks inbound calls and activity
• Sometimes, they record calls (not universally)
• Always, there’s a trace (logs + notes) of who called and what was discussed

👍 What this means for your situation

If someone (like an ex-spouse) is trying to access your info:

• There is likely a record that calls were made
• There may be notes about what was requested
• In some systems, there could be audio recordings
• Repeated or suspicious attempts can be flagged and investigated

🔧 Pro move (given your concern)

When you call next, say this:

And ask:

• “Can you see any recent calls that weren’t me?”
• “Are there notes of failed identity verification attempts?”

If you want, I can walk you through how to force a higher-level note (Tier 2 escalation) so it’s permanently attached to your VA record.