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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2008/080201-personal.html">http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2008/080201-personal.html</A></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#cc3333>CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa (February 1,
2008)</FONT> <FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular size=3>--
Marine Corps Bases Japan officials are investigating the Jan. 11 theft of a
laptop computer, which contained personally identifiable information for as many
as 4,000 clients of Marine Corps Community Services' New Parent Support Program.
<BR></FONT>
<P><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular size=3>According to
Marine Corps officials, the laptop may contain names, ranks, social security
numbers, dates of birth, children's names and mailing addresses of U.S. military
service members, U.S. government employees and Status of Forces Agreement
personnel on Okinawa and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. It does not include
driver's license numbers or bank and credit card information. <BR></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular size=3>"The Marine
Corps takes very seriously its responsibility to safeguard the personal
information of its service members, their families and government employees,"
said 1st Lt. Garron Garn, a Marine Corps Bases Japan spokesman. "Our information
systems are password protected and our users are educated on ways to protect
personally identifiable information."<BR></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular size=3>Marine Corps
Bases Japan and MCCS officials are working together with J&E Associates, a
federal contractor for MCCS and owner of the computer, to notify potentially
affected personnel as soon as possible, according to Garn. There is no evidence
the information has been misused. <BR></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular size=3>Anyone
concerned about their information being compromised should contact the New
Parent Support Program at 645-0396. <BR></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular size=3>Marine Corps
officials encourage service members, their families and government employees who
think their information has potentially been compromised to visit
www.consumer.gov/idtheft for protective actions against identity theft.
Additionally, they may place a fraud alert on their credit files for up to 24
months by contacting one of the three national credit bureaus: Equifax at (800)
766-0008, Transunion at (800) 680-7289, or Experian at (888) 397-3742. A fraud
alert will generate a free credit report that should be reviewed for suspicious
activity.<BR></FONT></P>
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size=3></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular size=3><FONT
size=2>Michael Hill <BR>Certified Identity Theft Risk Management
Specialist<BR>IDT Consultants<BR>404-216-3751</FONT></FONT></P><FONT
face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular size=3><FONT size=2>
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