US contradicts itself over its own ID theft advice
By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press
July 2, 2008
Page 3 of 3
â€"The VA spent roughly $6 million to replace about 4 million benefit cards to remove the Social Security number and birth date and placed all sensitive information on a bar code and magnetic strip. The only visible information on the new VA health cards is a color photo and identification of a special status, such as a Purple Heart recipient or former prisoner of war.
â€"Most universities have eliminated use of Social Security numbers.
â€"Forty-seven states have enacted laws to prevent identity theft, although their scope varies widely. In many instances, the laws ban use of the number for driver's licenses and other official state documents, student ID cards and cards issued by private health insurers. "States have really forged out ahead," said Richard Hamp, an assistant attorney general in Utah. "I'm disappointed that the federal government isn't more on top of it."
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