We're Number One!!!

[Mtnjim]

From "Network Computing":type::

May 13, 2005

We're No. 1 -- In Identity Theft
First in war, first in peace and first in -- identity theft? That's the verdict on the United States, according to a report issued earlier this week by Aite Group, a Boston research firm. In fact, the report says, identity theft occurs seven times more often in the U.S. than in other industrialized regions, including the United Kingdom. http://wallstreetandtech.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=162600200
So what's our problem? In a nutshell, it's the way we store our identities. As the report notes, most U.S. consumers -- online and otherwise -- are identified through credit cards and records stored via credit bureaus. Criminals have an incentive to collect our identity information, because it gives them access to our credit and bank accounts. This is not the case in Western Europe and Japan, where identity data is stored via a third-party entity -- and where identity theft is almost unknown, according to the Aite Group.

The recent exposures of private user data by Ameritrade, Bank of America and Time Warner, among others, would have had a much smaller impact if U.S. industry relied less on credit cards as a chief form of identification and more on independent, third-party verification methods that have no relationship to our credit or bank accounts.

Realistically, it would take years for such a transition to occur, especially because online commerce is so tuned to credit cards. But it's worth considering some intermediary method, such as escrow services, that would enable us to separate a user's identity from access to his money. Otherwise, we will continue to be number one in identity theft -- and that's a category we don't want to lead. Posted by Tim Wilson at May 13, 2005 12:24 PM

[InternationalPlayboy]

I was a victim of identity theft last year around this time. In fact, it was Tammy of Love Scent that gave the heads up that something was amiss with my credit card. Thanks to her, I caught it early, before there was major damage.

This was the second credit card number I had stolen from me in a span of about 6 months. The first time, they just made a few purchases, but this second time around, they went as far as changing my residence from Arizona to Texas! Coincidentally, my interest rate went up on that card right afterwards. I wondered if it was because payment was late as the statement was directed to the bogus address. I had immediately contacted the bank and canceled the card. This was when they told me not to pay until I received a duplicate statement, which I had to ask for twice before receiving.

I couldn't get a straight answer about why the rate rose and the person I talked to on that occasion told me I should have sent in my payment without waiting for the statement, contradicting the other customer service person's advice. I no longer use that card due to the increase and their refusal to lower it.

I think both instances of theft occured when I wasn't using a firewall on my computer. Both times, I had entered hostile websites that installed trojans on my computer. The virus checker found and removed them right away, but not before the damage was done. Needless to say, as soon as I discovered the second theft, I installed a firewall on my system.

My experience was fairly easy to handle. My dad, on the other hand, had his identity stolen so someone could make up bogus cell phone accounts. His theft was discovered when the thief tried to sign up for more phones and the salesman asked something that made him nervous, so he hung up. The salesman, thinking they had been disconnected, called the phone number on file, only to reach my dad instead of the person he had been talking too. It took almost two years to clean up his mess.

[belgareth]

This is a little off topic but the information is useful. In a situation where you are not getting the answers to questions, go to the top. If you need to talk to the CEO use www.hoovers.com (http://www.hoovers.com) to look up their name and address It may take a week to hear back but it really gets results.

[Mtnjim]

This is a little off topic but the information is useful. In a situation where you are not getting the answers to questions, go to the top. If you need to talk to the CEO use www.hoovers.com (http://www.hoovers.com) to look up their name and address It may take a week to hear back but it really gets results.
Quite the contrary, this is a discussion on ID theft. Measures to mitigate and correct are totally on topic.:thumbsup:

[belgareth]

Ok, then I'll add this. I use a three tries rule.
First try I ask nicely after explaining the problem.
Second try I explain that I tried before and who I talked too. Then I explain what they are going to do.
Third try I refuse to talk to anybody except a supervisor. I explain everything again and that this is my third call. Then I explain what I expect and give them a deadline to provide written evidence of compliance.

The day after my deadline expires I send a letter to the CEO with names dates and issues clearly deliniated.
This approach has never failed me.

[Mtnjim]

From InfoWorld (a computer nerd magazine) column called "Gripe Line", you have to read the privacy policy quote in the part of the article on the URL:

Going Into Orbitz Over Privacy
Posted May 16, 9:20 a.m. Pacific Time

The more you study the privacy policies of companies that have your personal information on file, the more concerned you're likely to become. That was certainly one reader's conclusion after he took a closer look at a revised privacy policy sent to him by the Orbitz.com travel site.

"The identity theft stories have finally convinced me I have to pay closer attention to privacy issues," the reader wrote. "So when I noticed an e-mail from Orbitz the other day announcing they had a new and improved privacy policy (http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=D829FC:1F36492), I figured I should read the thing. I've booked a few business trips with Orbitz, so they know enough about me to be dangerous."

Right off the bat, the reader ran into something he didn't like. "In big red letters they've got this 'Your California Privacy Rights' statement," the reader noted. "California residents can write them to find out what information Orbitz has given out to third parties for direct marketing purposes. Terrific, but what about the rest of us? Just because I don't happen to live in California doesn't mean I shouldn't have the same rights."

Such "California Disclosure" notices are actually now fairly common in privacy policies because of California's stricter privacy ... http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=D82A07:1F36492 More of Ed's Weblog

[belgareth]

Can't do it with travel or over the web very well but otherwise I make it a habit to use a phoney name. For all situations I use a disposable e-mail address. Since I own a domain and web site it isn't hard but you can do the same through Yahoo, MSN etc. When I start getting spam I stop using the address. It is actually kind of rewarding to know they paid good money for what is a useless address. For a phone number I usually give out my fax number. The idea of a telemarketer getting that annoying beep in their ear suits me just fine. I've also got annonymous calls blocked on my phones.

Do whatever you can to protect your privacy and make invasions as annoying to the invaders as possible. You have every right to be rude and offensive to any person who invades your privacy without your specific invitation. I don't want to hear that they are just doing their job, I'm just protecting my privacy that they are invading.

Whenever possible, give inaccurate information. When you discover that somebody has sold your information let them know you will not ever be doing business with them and why. Don't tell some clerk, tell the bosses. If you were the head of a large company and started getting a couple letters a day telling you that you had lost customers, don't you think it would get their attention?

[Mtnjim]

...Do whatever you can to protect your privacy and make invasions as annoying to the invaders as possible. You have every right to be rude and offensive to any person who invades your privacy without your specific invitation. I don't want to hear that they are just doing their job, I'm just protecting my privacy that they are invading.
I just love getting telemarketing calls!
That's because I registered my phone numbers with the "Federal Do Not Call List". I'm always soooo friendly and ask lots of questions like "What's the name of your company?" and "Where did you say you were located?" After I get as much information from tham as I can, I point out to them that my number is on the Do Not Call List, and there is a $5,000 fine for calling it, and that I'm going to file a complaint, and thank you for your information---then hang up. Then I file the complaint!:cheers:

[belgareth]

Same here. Both the National and Texas has one. File a complaint with both hoping they'll get fined twice.