Fact Sheet: Millions Of Vets' Personal Info Stolen

THE PROBLEM

Computer disk stolen from home of Veterans' Affairs employee.

Disk contains info on 26.5 million veterans.

Info includes names, Social Security numbers, birth dates.

Affects mostly vets who served and were discharged since 1975.

THE FEAR

Info could be used for identity theft.

No evidence any of data used so far.

Believed "highly probable" thieves don't know what they've got.

THE FALLOUT

Angry veterans, urging the VA to step lively.

VA will notify Congress and individual veterans.

FTC asks major credit bureaus to watch for misuse.

One senator urging credit reports for affected vets.

VA accused in past of shoddy accounting.

THE HELP

For use if vet thinks personal info misused.

Toll-free number: 800-FED-INFO (800-333-4636).

Web site: www.firstgov.gov.