STATE OF CONNECTICUT

EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS

M. JODI RELL
GOVERNOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Adam Liegeot, 860-524-7313

June 7, 2006 Adam.Liegeot@ct.gov

Governor Rell Announces Upcoming

Identity Theft Prevention Seminars
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Identity Theft Information Team
that she created will hold another round of identity theft prevention seminars to inform
veterans and their families on how to prevent their personal data from being used in
criminal ways.

“In light of the recent incident involving the theft of data maintained by the
federal Department of Veterans Affairs, we owe it to the 280,000 veterans residing in
Connecticut to protect them from individuals who may try to use this personal
information in criminal ways. It is imperative for us to do everything we can in
Connecticut to help veterans safeguard their personal data,” Governor Rell said.

“The seminars we have held over the last couple of weeks have been very
successful and very informative for our veterans. I am confident that these seminars are
providing veterans and their family peace-of-mind knowing that we are here to help,”
Governor Rell said. “We also invite members of the Connecticut National Guard and the
U.S. Navy to attend as well.”

The Governor’s Identity Theft Information Team will hold the following seminars
next week:

• Monday, June 12 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Groton Town Hall Annex on
Fort Hill, 45 Fort Hill Road in Groton.
• Tuesday, June 13 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the North Haven Campus of
Gateway Community College locate at 88 Bassett Road in North Haven.
• Thursday, June 15 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Naugatuck Valley Community
College, in the auditorium, located at 750 Chase Parkway in Waterbury.
• Thursday, June 15 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Wallingford Town Hall in the
Town Hall Council Chambers, located at 45 South Main Street in Wallingford
(Only the state Department of Veterans Affairs will be participating in this
forum).
-more-

STATE CAPITOL, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106

TEL: (860) 566-4840, FAX: (860) 524-7396
www.ct.gov/governor
 The Governor ordered the creation of this special team after it was disclosed last
month that the personal data – name, date of birth and Social Security numbers – of 26.5
million United States veterans was stolen from the home of a U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (DVA). In some cases, the personal data also included phone numbers
and addresses.

The federal DVA also announced on June 3 that the personal data of some
National Guard and Reserve personnel across the country and members of the U.S. Navy
could potentially be involved.

The Identity Theft Information Team is composed of staff from Connecticut’s

Departments of Veterans Affairs, Public Safety, Consumer Protection and Banking.
Agency commissioners or their representatives have been asked by the Governor to
conduct seminars to inform veterans on how to monitor financial accounts and credit
reports, update them of the steps they can take to prevent ID theft and correct any
erroneous information involving this incident.

In addition to the creation of the Identity Theft Information Team, the Governor last
month directed the State Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda S. Schwartz to initiate an
internal review of her agency’s security procedures and employee training standards to
protect veterans’ privacy information.

Veterans looking for the latest information from the federal government about the
loss of personal data may contact 1-800-FED-INFO (333-4636) or visit
www.firstgov.gov Veterans can also visit the state’s website at www.ct.gov to be linked
to various resources to help them guard against identity theft.

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