Ensuring Data Security and Privacy Protection for Every Veteran We Serve

VA’s highest priority is protecting our Veterans’ personal information and ensuring our systems and services are secure and available to care for Veterans, their families, and care providers. It’s essential because Veterans and the military community are under siege from criminals determined to steal your hard-earned benefits and exploit your sensitive personal information.

The Threat Environment

Veterans face a multitude of security threats: smishing texts on your mobile phone, phishing emails, fraudulent telemarketing calls, and even people impersonating VA employees who show up at your doorstep. The one thing these scams have in common is that becoming a victim can be financially devastating.  

By the fourth quarter of 2023, VA received more than 12,500 referrals for potential benefits fraud and provided support to over 1,164 victims of payment redirection fraud. In 2022, Veterans, military personnel, and their families reported 93,000 fraud complaints, costing them more than $414 million. 

It’s an intolerable situation, and that’s why we’ve aligned resources to provide tools, prevention and deterrence strategies, and assist with the prosecution of perpetrators. We’re taking the fight to the fraudsters, working with Veterans at the ground level, securing systems within VA, and joining forces with our counterparts throughout the federal government.

Empowering Veterans

While you are your own first line of defense, you are not on your own. VA provides many resources to Veterans to enable you to build a formidable security wall. Visit the VA Cyber Security Spot for a wealth of information on topics ranging from preventing benefits redirection fraud to “cyber hygiene” in maintaining your devices, and much more.  

For VA privacy guidance and resources, check out the VA Privacy Service website, where Veterans will find information on subjects such as filing privacy complaints, reporting suspected identity theft, health care and benefits fraud; and a listing of VA privacy policies.

In addition to web-based resources, VA has deployed more than 400 VA Privacy Officers (POs) across the country. Their responsibilities include all matters related to protecting Veteran Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as receiving and processing privacy complaints, monitoring VA facility compliance with privacy requirements, and promoting privacy training and awareness. Watch this VA Privacy Officers video to learn more about POs and how to identify and contact the one in your area.

For more about common forms of fraud, warning signs, preventative measures and reporting resources, visit the Protecting Veterans from fraud website. If you miss a VA benefits payment, identify a discrepancy in payments, or find suspicious activity with your direct deposit account, contact VA immediately at 1-800-827-1000.

Introducing VSAFE, a Government-wide Security Resource

On Veteran’s Day 2023, President Biden announced the launch of the Veteran Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Campaign and Task Force. This initiative brings together leaders from VA, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies to conduct an all-hands effort to safeguard Veterans and their families.

VSAFE increases the ability to leverage capacity across agencies and jurisdictions. Examples include connecting nearly 3,000 federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies to share information on fraud activities and using the Federal Communications Commission to identify sources of scam robocalls targeting Veterans and order phone companies to block these calls. 

A Team Effort

In 2023, VA processed and delivered $163 billion in earned benefits to 6.3 million Veterans and survivors. While we take enormous pride in the fulfillment of these obligations, we do so with the knowledge that there are bad actors who view Veteran beneficiaries as targets for scams.

Participants in Data Privacy Week are informed that “it’s more than just a name. It’s a reminder that creating a secure online world is a group effort.” It’s a sentiment that hits home for VA and the Veterans we serve, and we won’t rest if there is a single Veteran at risk. Please join us in this effort. Review the resources presented here and be vigilant in safeguarding your data and privacy—and encouraging all Veterans to do the same. We are in this together!

For more information on cybersecurity efforts within VA, see “Getting Laser Focused On Cybersecurity.”