I have read all today's comments re: identity theft with great interest,
but think that there are two main reasons why I really don't worry about
being a victim of identity theft, or someone fraudulently using my
credit cards etc. and they are:
1. That "a fool and his money are easily parted" and there are so many
fools in this world that do stupid things like tell any Tom, Dick or
Harry that calls their house their bank details, that minor vigilance on
my part is sufficient to deter people on to the next sucker instead.
And,
2. That I know that ultimately it is the credit card companies who foot
the bill for the fraudulent use of my card (as long as I have sticked to
the T&Cs of use, and not been negligent) and not me. I think all the
scare-mongering in the press over identity theft is fanned by the huge
financial institutions whose profits are under attack, but who are
unwilling or unable to instigate more stringent (and therefore less
convenient) security procedures for fear of reducing Joe Public's
reliance on their flexible friends, which would reduce the linings of
their pockets.
Friday rant over........
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Talbot Richard
Sent: 04 March 2005 14:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Identity Theft - Nightmare scenario
It's so easy to collect this information from people, for example those
nice
direct debit blaggers that hang around the streets and work for a
different
charity each day. We all assume they work for a recognised charity and
not
for themselves. Well on the street you give them your bank details and
home
address, your date of birth and I have been told they also ask for you
credit card details just in case the bank refuses the direct debit.
Richard Talbot
Data Protection Adviser
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Trent
Sent: 04 March 2005 08:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [data-protection] Identity Theft - Nightmare scenario
Now I know Identity Theft is fats becoming a media buzzword. I saw the
survey that says that one in four of us "Has had their identity stolen"
or
"Knows someone who has had theirs stolen". I laughed at the second
element
because I thought it was like the people who know someone who knew the
person who microwaved her poodle to dry it after a walk. I think I have
joined that one in four. A few things conspired to make me think it may
well be much more serious that the TV programmes have shown us
TV last night showed a programme on traffic wardens and their "secure"
disposal of credit card details in a wheelie bin that often overflowed.
The
news item about "one in four of us" germinated and sprouted. And I was
contacted by someone who had been arrested because his credit card
details
appeared in 2003 on a Danish web site that touted illegal and deeply
unpleasant imagery and was scared witless because he had never been
there,
but had, not unreasonably, had his home entered and a great deal of
potential evidence seized for examination. I am not going into the
morals
here. He is either guilty or innocent.
But it struck me forcibly how easy it is for someone to do this to
someone
else. To anyone else. For me to do to you or you to do to me.
To do it to you I just have to visit that wheelie bin and get your card
number and name (and I have your address because it's there, on the
paperwork), the expiry date and that three digit number that I am told
is
intended for web transactions but that every phone based business
records as
well. Then I look for the material I want, probably by cruising in a
car
with a laptop until I find an insecure wireless network to log in
through,
which will make the IP address a random person's. It could even be
yours at
home. Then I put your credit card details into
"averynastyplaceindeed.com"
(it didn't exist this morning, but I bet someone registers it by this
afternoon) and download the stuff that the police will later arrest you
for.
It may never appear on your credit card statement, either. There may
actually be no charge (yeah, right!). But, if it does, it will slip
under
your radar because the sum will be named something innocuous.
A reasonable question here, and I expect we have a financial institution
or
so on this list to help answer it, is how can the ordinary person know
that
this has happened (until the 6am knock on the door, of course. I
understand
one notices that in a highly stressful manner), how can they protect
themselves from it, and most importantly, how can they defend themselves
against it?
Tim Trent - Consultant
Direct: +44(0)1344 392644 Mobile:+44(0)7710 126618
email: [log in to unmask]
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