Shop RadioShack for Great Gifts
Spyware, viruses, & security : Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft?
- 8/17/07 2:08 PM
Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft?
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 8/17/07 2:08 PM
Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to identity theft?
- On the Web (Why?)
- Over the phone (landline/mobile)(Why?)
- Through the mail (Why?)
- Wallet theft (Why?)
- Home break-in (Why?)
- Laptop theft (Why?)
- Credit applications at stores (Why?)
- From the papers in my trash (Why?)
- Employees who handle personal info (Why?)
- Other (What is it?)
other
by jean harrington - 8/17/07 4:46 PM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Old people are most vulnerable to ID theft,
whether it be from a chance meeting at a shopping center, a home visit, a phone call or a computer.
Everywhere you are vulnerable
by jmarkross - 8/17/07 5:15 PM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It is amusing when people say they would NEVER buy on the www because of fear of fraud. Yet--they go to a restaurant the same day, pay with a credit card, and give all your info PLUS your facsimile signature to a teenager or someone else you don't know. Use plastic--you are vulnerable. I live in a small town (6200) near a metro area, and my bank is just a block from here. Make friends with your bankers--if possible. I had overcharge on something sent monthly after I had cancelled. I went down to the bank and asked what to do. They gave me a form and I had to sign it to say I was truthful. They immediately put my cash back...and they said anyone who can charge you--MUST be willing to accept chargebacks. Then the biller must prove their case. I use PayPal when I can, and also a PayPal debit card at times...giving me an extra layer of safety. If you let people say--"oh-well YOU'LL have to---answer with--No...YOU will have to do this or that." My VISA and MasterCard both have layers of loss prevention. You can only prevent the speed with which someone can "gank" you...not the act itself. Just get guarantees from your money handlers.
ID Theft
by jean harrington - 8/17/07 6:08 PM In reply to: Everywhere you are vulnerable by jmarkrossI should have said 'just being older' makes you more vulnerable.I live in a small town, too, with a population of 2,000.
I bank online or use a credit card online and in real stores.
These credit card transactions are immediately accessible to me online.
Banking online is more secure since banks have a 3-item logon and you can see the security-layer at top of your screen.
But,I take exception to the fact that my bank wants to away with mailed statements by having a notice of my statement mailed to me each month.
That's a sure fire way of creating more 'phishing', to which old people are often victims.
Old people are vulnerable b/c they're lonely, think they are going to live forever and just more trusting in other people.
Just today I read about an 86 y/o woman who met someone at a small shopping center.
She withdrew $10,000.She lost it all and then called the police.
Some stores just don't get it.
by TiVoJoe - 8/20/07 2:53 PM In reply to: Everywhere you are vulnerable by jmarkrossI was buying someting from Meritline.com using PayPal and they said they needed my credit card number to verify my shipping address. They lost the sale and I haven't been back. Some stores just don't get it.
not just us
by steve.c - 8/21/07 7:50 AM In reply to: Everywhere you are vulnerable by jmarkrossWe do keep bleating on about web sites all the time, however there is more to security than just which website you use, many thieves dont just sit at the P.C and wait for you to get it wrong. Very many are very active in there methods of getting your information. For instance many banks are dreadfull when it comes too security and as been shown many times that our financial information is dumped and not shredded befor being put in the bins at the back of banks. This paperwork as all the information needed to steal your id and from there it snowballs. So yes be carefull in all dealings on the net .But when was the last time anyone checked bank information security, maybe walking into your bank just befor refuse collection day and asking to see where all paper information is disposed of and to be shown,far fetched ?. Just a thought and worth a discussion too maybe. Be safe all
id
by LeeWilliams - 8/22/07 4:43 PM In reply to: Everywhere you are vulnerable by jmarkrossI recently got several charges from"Paypal" that had nothing to do with anything we ever did. In fact some of the charges were for overseas transcations, when we were right here in Arizona!! I would be extremely careful not to use Paypal if it was me....
PayPal
by Mel McKee - 8/25/07 3:33 AM In reply to: Everywhere you are vulnerable by jmarkrossIf you use PayPal, PayPal will hold you responsible for up to $1000.00. With a credit card, the lender can only hold you responsible for up to $50.00 by law.
Stop blaming the internet or email
by DaveW1966 - 8/17/07 5:42 PM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I sure wish people would stop blaming the internet and/or email.
This really ticks me off as that excuse was so 10yrs ago. REALLY.
Get over it folks. You are responsible if you are stupid.
Therefore, you ought to pay for it out of your own pocket.
sheme on you. shame shame shame
by david beaver - 8/21/07 6:54 AM In reply to: Stop blaming the internet or email by DaveW1966you call ppl names on your replies. but you know very well that there are serious hackers in the world of the internet. There are very intelligent hackers just sitting out there waiting for ppl to log on to a site like a shark waiting for its pray. for you to call ppl names on your post and they deserve what happens that is a statement that is very infant like. instead of slapping ppl with insults you should have given advise. shame on you friend. and if you take this as an insult that is your problem. internet is there for sharks and prays, its up to security and antivirus software to assist us with keeping these types of ppl out of our system, nortons software is the best to use. And most of all folks try not to be a name caller. GOD BLESS ALL
identity theft
by maggiedev - 8/17/07 5:57 PM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i think i am more vulnerable from corporate sources. the only time i have lost a credit card number is from our credit union. hackers retrieved millions of card numbers by hacking into the credit union files. they discovered it immediately and issued new cards to us all. i do not use credit card online. i do not have any bank records on my laptop in case it is stolen on a trip. i call the number in on landline and not a cell phone when order, even online. i do not send credit card info through the mail. i burn all credit applications and never apply for store credit. i have one mastercard issued through our credit union and a bank card for each bank account and keep them on my person at all times when out and about. i am not completly safe, but i have done everything i can to make sure my identity stays my own. if someone gets my laptop while i am at a hotel, well, they get a bunch of photos i hate to lose, but nothing more. a thief will have to work a little harder to get my stuff.
Great tips, Maggiedev!
by KTate70 - 8/22/07 8:22 PM In reply to: identity theft by maggiedevYour efforts to protect your identity sound as diligent as mine. Ironically, I don't really fret over losing my credit card numbers as all of my issuing banks guarantee against fraudulent transactions. What concerns me most is losing my SSN. I take extreme measures to protect it and will refuse to relinquish it unless absolutely mandatory (e.g., tax records, medical records, etc.). There are many organizations that still ask for it but I refuse and am still able to conduct business with them. An unnamed satellite TV provider and a prepaid (yes, prepaid!) cell phone carrier asked for it while establishing my account but didn't get it and still proceeded set up my accounts. I only wish more people would do the same and STOP giving it out! In fact, the only thing that will curb ID theft is legislation that stiffens the penalties for organizations that are negligent in the handling of public information. The college I attend is one such organization. Two years ago, they embedded the SSNs of nearly 9,000 students in an email that was sent to almost 100 fellow students. There is no excuse for this type of negligence. Apology letters do no good to those who now have to place fraud alerts on their files every 90 days.
I have compiled a short list of some guidelines that we should all follow to reduce the likelihood of falling victim to ID theft. Here goes:
1)Stop giving out your SSN! Unless it's the IRS, a government agency, or your employer, simply refuse to give it. If they don't budge, take your business elsewhere.
2)Speaking of employers, talk to your HR department about their policy for requesting SSNs on job applications. Often, completed applications are left on desks or inboxes where anyone can see them. I work for a school district and managed to get our HR department to remove the line for SSN on all applications. We do, of course, require it but only after an applicant has passed the first couple rounds of interviews.
3)Keep your SSN card in a very safe place. Not in your desk drawer where it would likely be stolen if your home was burglarized, but in a safe-deposit box or an actual safe that's too heavy to be lifted by burglars.
4)If you absolutely have to give out your SSN on paper, write in the first five digits on the application then the remaining four on a small, separate Post-It and ask that the recipient shred the Post-It after your application is considered. I did this while applying for a lease and the apartment manager understood my concern completely and (hopefully) obliged.
5)Write less checks. If you're still writing personal checks to strangers then go to your bank and ask about their policy for handling lost account numbers cause it's only a matter of time before you see fraudulent transactions posted to your account.
6)Do not keep any files on your laptop or desktop that could lead to ID theft in the event they were stolen. Instead, use a flash drive with some level of password protection for its files. Ideally, you should get a flash drive with hardware-based protection but they're a bit more expensive.
Okay, I'll stop for now. But I hope that more people would become more savvy about protecting their personal information. We just need to acknowledge that there are people out there who are doing all they can to obtain others' information for fraudulent purposes and make it as difficult as possible for them. Who knows: maybe they'll eventually give up, get an honest job and actually contribute to society. Okay, maybe not, but I like to dream.
Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Members Targeted
by DaveW1966 - 8/17/07 6:28 PM In reply to: Where, in your opinion, are you most vulnerable to ID theft? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
So I am supposed to feel sorry for these idiots at the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Members. http://www.newschannel9.com/onset?id=14436&template=article.html
Says they had access to 80,000 members.
Who leaked the phone numbers and/or email addresses for 80,000 members to even have this initiate?
I always work as unemployed and/or disabled and have no phone number and/or email address. :HINT:
Did the Credit Union or one of their underpaid and pissed off employees leak the info internally (check your employees and pay them more)or get did they hacked and were thus negiligent within their IT department?
Either way I feel they are responsible and not the FDIC or anyone else.
I am a victim of stollen identity
by mario50 - 8/17/07 7:44 PM In reply to: Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Members Targeted by DaveW1966My identity been stollen somewhat from internet , I discovered in Charlotte at the immigration , when i been almost arrested , some one did a passport with my name date of birth and all my details , I say from internet because i was menber of one web site and Identity was stollen form there , for get beck my honesty costed me hips of money and time
mario50
I call BS when I see it.
by DaveW1966 - 8/17/07 8:03 PM In reply to: I am a victim of stollen identity by mario50So what website collected your name and date of birth, after you gave it to them voluntarily? Was it leaked by them it or did they get hacked?
You should have checked their record or been more cautious before you released such info to them. It is the World, Wide Web right?
U.S. laws don't apply in a lot of cases, regardless of what politicians feed you.
Regardless....
How does this fall on me or internet users worldwide?
Why are we responsible and why should we pay for your loses when you released this info to "a website"?
Let me get this right.. So if Johny calls me on the phone and says he is the Secret Service and I should tell him everything and get my identity stolen?
That excuse is one of ignorance so 10yrs ago.
The internet aint new man. What BS.
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
