Dahlgren sends 7,200 letters about potentially compromised credit to workers

Date published: 5/12/2008

By COREY BYERS

The Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren is mailing 7,200 more letters to former employees through the Internal Revenue Service warning them about potential identity fraud.

In January, four people arrested in Pennsylvania had pages from a Navy report dated July 7, 1994, listing names, Social Security numbers and birth dates for 100 current and former employees.

Last names beginning with "Bow" through "Bre" from various offices at Dahlgren and at the Naval Surface Warfare Centers in White Oak, Md., and Panama City, Fla., were on the pages.

It is unknown how the suspects gained possession of the report.

Naval Surface Warfare Center spokeswoman Stacia Courtney said 2,000 letters were sent out earlier to those who worked for the Navy on or before July 7, 1994. The latest batch is going to people whose addresses were not available for the first mailing.

Courtney said it's not clear how many people have suffered from fraudulent attempts to use their names to obtain credit. However, she said those with fraud concerns have been referred to Naval Criminal Investigative Services as the investigation continues.

Dahlgren officials have urged those with evidence of fraud or compromised credit to contact the NSWC call center at 800/352-7967 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Corey Byers: 540/735-1976
Email: cbyers@freelancestar.com

Date published: 5/12/2008