Spyware, viruses, & security : Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft?
- 8/17/07 2:08 PM
Identity Studpity vs Identity Theft
by DaveW1966 - 8/17/07 8:06 PM In reply to: I call BS when I see it. by DaveW1966Identity Studpity and Identity Theft are 2 different things nowadays.
Watch your local news, "they've been pulling this plug" and making people feel sad for idiots for years.
Tennessee Valley FCU
by xarophti - 8/18/07 1:02 PM In reply to: Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Members Targeted by DaveW1966no, the article did NOT say they had access to the phone numbers and emails of 80,000 members. What it DID say was that with that many members in the surrounding area, by blasting large numbers of automated phone calls throughout the area, the chances were about 1 in 10 of the scammers hitting an actual TVFCU member who might fall for calling the number and entering their account number and PIN.
No one leaked anything.
It's the same thing as getting phishing emails for financial institutions that you have no connection or accounts with or never even HEARD of (I get them all the time)
I agree
by MarkFlax - 10/7/07 1:49 AM
In reply to: Tennessee Valley FCU by xarophti
DaveW1966 should read the article he linked to more carefully.
The article did not say that the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union database had been hacked. It said;
"The criminals behind this simply blast a large number of calls out to the public hoping to hit some people who are actually our members. And with 80,000 members in the area, chances are about 1 in 10 they will reach an actual TVFCU member"
That is very different. It is also understandable for those members who are not aware of this type of scam to be caught out. It is not just an internet/email scam. In fact the article goes on to say; "fraudulent phone calls and emails", not just emails.
I am confused about DaveW1966's post. He says;
"I always work as unemployed and/or disabled and have no phone number and/or email address.".
He always works as "unemployed"? What does that mean?
Also, he has no phone number and/or email address. How did he make this post then? To make posts in these forums he has to register as a member and provide a valid email address. How did he do that without an email address?
Scams are scams, however they are carried out. The poor innocent victims should be dealt with compassion, not derided as idiots.
Mark
any of the above make one vulnerable.
by itasara - 8/17/07 9:17 PM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Again I have to say that all those reasons listed could leave one open for identity theft. We live in a world today where dishonesty is all around us. I know of teens who stole credit card numbers at the grocery store.. I think anyone who wants to steal will find a way.
Medical Care Providers' Offices
by Jethro Bodine Jr - 8/17/07 10:55 PM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Medical Care Providers' Offices almost universally ask the patient for not only the address but date of birth AND social security number. Ask any local police department and they will advise that most cases of identity theft are from medical offices. With the social security number and date of birth an identity thief is almost all the way home. There is no reason for them to have a SSN except for them to be able to track you down and sue you if you do not pay the bill. It probably is wise just to get one digit off bna claim dyslexia rather than argue about the SSN with a receptionist. Most larger providers such as hospitals will usually let you put in all 9s for the SSN. About 10 years ago my group health plan at a fortune 500 company universally used SSNs for the number on your insurance card. When I objected and said I wanted another number because of identity theft I was told that I was the first member that had made that objection. Sadly, I think that that was true. Now Health care providers are not only asking for SSNs (which are not usually used anymore as insurance card numbers) but are also almost universally asking for dates of birth which one must divulge in fromnt of everyone around but is very helpful for an identity thief to have. Jethro Bodine Jr
Great point, Jethro!
by KTate70 - 8/22/07 8:30 PM In reply to: Medical Care Providers' Offices by Jethro Bodine JrI raised a stink at my employer's member services department before releasing my SSN for a new health care provider. You're right: there is not a valid reason for them to have it. They could use a combination of fields to distinguish my identity (e.g., employer number, DOB, last name, and first initial).
I think back to when I was a kid and gave it out so liberally. It's amazing I never became a victim of ID theft.
Identity theft
by TN-T3 - 8/17/07 11:09 PM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Other than having your credit cards, wallet, laptops stolen by a person that has no conscience, I'm more worried at the home-front of people finding ID numbers, account number, empty credit card apps that have my name on them, etc. So whatever comes through the mail with my name and any kind of identifying information I'm sure to shred. I've heard of too many people going through papers in dumpsters or wherever trash is deposited to find identifying information to use on people. I now have bank statements and quite a few of my bills come to me online so that i can easily delete them from the computer and deleted items. So if you don't have a shredder, or access to one, BUY ONE, there's plenty of people out there without a conscience that will gladly use your account number. And if you see anything suspicious on your bank statement (if you're married or have a signicant other) check with them immmediately and/or call the bank and find out where that charge came from.
Most vulnerable to ID theft?
by Ribbink - 8/18/07 12:42 AM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I first voted under the vernacular of "you" being defined. I voted phone lines. Especially consummers without Caller ID, are being subject very slick unsolicited callers. Even with Caller ID, the name can very authenic. Bottomline: less intelligent persons or unaware.
As to myself, I'll vote unscrupulous employees who handle personal info.
ID theft
by maingate - 8/18/07 1:42 AM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Credit Cards - restaurans where you pay the wait staff rather than a cashier. They "disappear" to run your card giving them full access to your card info, especially tour 3 digit security code.
Credit Cards
by TN-T3 - 8/18/07 3:18 AM In reply to: ID theft by maingateI've heard about that, that's why I check my credit card statement every time I get it for payment, that's why I use usually my debit card in places like that that need a PIN number to get into it at the bank. That's been a big problem and I've read about it where they get the credit card number, and if it's a restaurant I don't know while traveling, I'm brisk enough to ask the manager if they do criminal background checks on their employees before hiring them. If they don't answer, or hesitate, I'm one to up and leave and pay for my coffee (heck with the order I just put in) and leave.
Solitators that can get under the law that they can call the "do not call" list start their speil, alot of times it's just a recording I hang up. I'll hang up on a solitator also. He says wait a minute, I say I don't have a minute for you.
***WATCH ALSO*** the surveys that you fill in online. The ones after you finish the survey and they have different things you can check yes or no to different offers. WATCH that cause sometimes the box is already checked yes, and/or if you don't put no on one certain one that says something about voice mail for your computer, they automatically put themselves on your phone bill. Check your phone bills carefully folks, but they never notify you that they're on there. I don't remember the name of the company, but you can call your phone company and get their phone number and refuse their service, they will argue that you didn't refuse their offer. Threaten them with a lawyer, and I guarantee the fee with disappear off you phone bill with 2 billing cycles, that's happened to me twice.
Anywhere You Use Credit Cards!
by triplet grandmom - 8/18/07 5:36 AM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I agree with "maingate" and others. We have had more trouble with using our credit card at restaurants, motels (reputable chains) and more stupidly, at a craft fair. Fraudulent charges, duplicate charges, switched bills, etc. with untold grief getting it straightened out.
Wallet Theft
by cracker39 - 8/18/07 6:23 AM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I do shop online using credit cards, and maybe I'm naive believing that their encryption safeguards my credit card numbers. I don't use credit cards in restaurants very often where they take your card out of your sight. We bank online and trust in their safety measures. We put all mail with our personal info through a shredder. We remove our names and addresses from magazines being recycled, donated, or trashed. I live in an area in a small town where break-ins are rare, so I feel that my home is safe from ID theft.
But, my wallet is a different story. Perhaps, foolishly, I carry several credit cards, two debit cards, and, of course, my driver's license. So, if my wallet turned up in the hands of a dishonest person, they'd have all they'd need to steal our identity.
When a business or service you used fails.
by bus - 8/18/07 11:06 AM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
What happens to your records. In 2 cases for me, my credit card info was stolen with over $2,500.00 theft.
1. I canceled my business credit card and turned it in at the company I worked for but 2 months after the card was canceled it was used to make a purchase in another state at an airport. The company was in the process of going out of business. I believe that mis-handling of the company's business records resulted in my credit card being stolen.
2. I used a local car service for repairs. The car service went out of business over night. I was lucky to get my vehicle back. A year later the credit card I had used to pay for the service had its info stolen. I believe that mis-handling of the car service business records resulted in my credit info being stolen.
Your lacal stores
by ESUNintel - 8/18/07 10:37 PM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In this day and age it is very easy to steel someones identity. I've never really been afraid of ID theft online, over the phone and other similar mediums. I feel most sites have a secure and safe checkout, and that most people are smart enough not to click on weird links or answer questions online or over the phone that may end up in ID theft.
I am most afraid when dealing with actual people, such as bankers, sales people and so on. I work part time in a retail store, and it would be VERY easy to get someones phone number, ID/Drivers license number, social sec. number and others of the like. When ever someone applies for a credit card or doesn't have their store card on them, an evil sales person or some customer overhearing the conversation might steal the ID number or social sec. number. When applying for credit the sales associate keeps a copy of the signature and other personal info to hand in at close. Personal at the store can also go on the main computer, which few know how to access, and gather a customers personal data.
I am, however; happy to say I would never do such a thing, and that the store I work at has never been involved in any sort of identity theft.
Identity Theft
by TN-T3 - 8/18/07 11:55 PM In reply to: Your lacal stores by ESUNintelUnless it's a verifiable place (my bank, my employer) that asks for my social security number, I don't give it. I used a check once at a convenience store, showed my ID driver's license (normal procedure) and he wanted my Social Security number. I said for what? He said that's normal procedure, I said no it isn't, I gave him back his merchandise and took my check and left. I could see through the window the manager and the sales clerk in some foreign tongue yelling about it, the manager said to come back, he was new, I said never mind I didn't need it anyhow.
It's very scary out there these days as to who can steal your identity, and the horror stories that you hear come from them. I thank God that I deal with Bank of America and they stop whatever looks suspicious. They've stopped more than one transaction before and called me, and/or when I lost my debit card (tragedy cause I use that for everything), but they have your picture on your debit card.
That's why I say if in doubt...........shred it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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