Personal information

[wavery]

I can't help but notice that a lot of people feel comfortable posting personal information, that could be used for identity theft, on this and other websites.

Are people just not aware that people make their living by selling identity information to others?

I manage a fairly large apartment building but all of our rental applications are faxed to a central office in Downtown Los Angeles. About 3 years ago we discovered that one of the employees in the office was photocopying rental applications and selling them to a person that engages in identity theft. We called the police and they set-up a sting operation to catch this guy in the act and get the person that he was selling the apps to.

It turned out that the guy was paying our employee $3,000 per application that he gave to him. Within minutes, that guy set up loans and credit card charges amounting to $10K-$50K per application.

I talked to one of the detectives on the case. He told me that there are people that have huge data banks on their computers and all they do is feed names and facts (like S/S#, date of birth, mothers maiden name, place of birth, employment info, personal pics, etc.) into this data bank. As soon as they have enough corresponding info on any 1 person, they sell that info to people that engage in the actual theft. He also told me that there are people that sell the software for compiling the info, so all the thief has to do is enter names and corresponding info. REALLY scary stuff :yikes:  :yikes:

[dkutz]

I can't help but notice that a lot of people feel comfortable posting personal information, that could be used for identity theft, on this and other websites.

Are people just not aware that people make their living by selling identity information to others?

I manage a fairly large apartment building but all of our rental applications are faxed to a central office in Downtown Los Angeles. About 3 years ago we discovered that one of the employees in the office was photocopying rental applications and selling them to a person that engages in identity theft. We called the police and they set-up a sting operation to catch this guy in the act and get the person that he was selling the apps to.

It turned out that the guy was paying our employee $3,000 per application that he gave to him. Within minutes, that guy set up loans and credit card charges amounting to $10K-$50K per application.

I talked to one of the detectives on the case. He told me that there are people that have huge data banks on their computers and all they do is feed names and facts (like S/S#, date of birth, mothers maiden name, place of birth, employment info, personal pics, etc.) into this data bank. As soon as they have enough corresponding info on any 1 person, they sell that info to people that engage in the actual theft. He also told me that there are people that sell the software for compiling the info, so all the thief has to do is enter names and corresponding info. REALLY scary stuff :yikes:  :yikes:

"Prehaps Ye  Knows too Much..."     pirates of the carribean

[griffsmom]

I can't help but notice that a lot of people feel comfortable posting personal information, that could be used for identity theft, on this and other websites.
...
 
I talked to one of the detectives on the case. He told me that there are people that have huge data banks on their computers and all they do is feed names and facts (like S/S#, date of birth, mothers maiden name, place of birth, employment info, personal pics, etc.) into this data bank.

I don't have any of that info listed here or on any other Web site. I'm not sure how someone could steal my identity based on my PUT profile. I guess if I start getting bills addressed to "griffsmom" I'll start to worry.

[wavery]

I don't have any of that info listed here or on any other Web site. I'm not sure how someone could steal my identity based on my PUT profile. I guess if I start getting bills addressed to "griffsmom" I'll start to worry.

That's not how it works.

There are forum "Stalkers" that will make a file for every fictitious name on the forum. Each time that a post has something that tells about the poster, that information is put in the file. Each file may contain 10-25 pertinent facts that ID that poster. As soon as they have enough info, they sell it. They can even sell connecting info without a name. The buyer, will then have a way to connect that info with a name. Actually, the name is the easiest part of the process, it's coordinating all the other info that is hard.

[3ontheGo]

Good thing to bring up, Wayne. While slightly off topic, since it involves something other than identity theft, here's a "stay safe" reminder I wrote for a parenting discussion board several years ago:

I used to run a non-profit ISP, community access network, and community technology center. As part of my job, I gave seminars on internet safety.

People have a tendency to think they're anonymous online. They're not. People with very basic skills can find out more than you'd like, often from things you post, your e-mail address, or your website. It's true that you get a sense of security dealing with the same people online for a long period of time. Remember, they're not the only ones reading your posts. Ya know those people who make you nervous when they stand too close to you in public, or show too much interest in a conversation you're having with a friend over coffee? They love the internet! And they can figure out where to find the kind of people they're interested in.

If you don't like thinking about this stuff, or think it's all a bunch of paranoid crap, don't finish reading this. This post is to provide info for people who want to learn more, not an invitation to debate the probability of incidents and predators.

I've located several people from these boards easily. Yes, home address, phone, etc. (No, I'm not the one M mentioned who called her!) I wouldn't use the info, but it's easy. Sometimes you follow a link to a website for photos, and there you find the real e-mail address for somebody and that innocent bit of info tells you where they work or live, or their last name is somewhere on the page or in the URL. Or they have their own domain, and the domain registration info, which includes addresses and real names, is available online.

Tips for remaining safe while participating in online community bulletin board:
*Remember it's easy to combine info from little things you say. I had a pretty good profile of one of the moms here in about five minutes (at her request) just using info she'd posted: Where she lived, worshipped, ate and shopped. Her kids' names and when they were born. Even what kind of underwear she wears, and something about her pubic hair. It would be easy for somebody to end up on her doorstep with very little work starting with just with the info I had. I don't want to reveal all the tricks they use, but believe me, it's easy.
* Remain vague. You don't have to say, "We walked to Marco's Italian Diner last night." Stick with, "We went out for dinner. "
* Don't use real names in your posts. It's not dishonest. If we know you as Lisa or Mom2QTPie, when you're really Jennifer, you're not being dishonest. You're being smart.
* If you allow e-mail to be sent to you via a web link, use one of the freebie e-mail accounts, not your normal one. Once you reply to someone, they have your e-mail address, and often your last name.
* Once somebody has your e-mail address they can search the web for other things you may have posted to other boards, work to locate you through the domain name, etc.
* If you use the same nickname on several different types of boards you're providing all kinds of info about yourself which can be combined into a comprehensive profile.
* If you use a local ISP for e-mail and web hosting, remember people can narrow down where you live. Don't make it too easy.
* If you want to post photos, use one of the free services like Angelfire, Yahoo, etc. not your local ISP's server, which would give your user id in the URL.
* Don't say where you (or your SO) work.
* Think about what you say. Do you really wanting strangers knowing they can find you at the LLL meeting at 95 Cypress Street on Friday at 3pm?
* Don't reveal your actual birthdates. If you say "It's my 29th birthday today!!" it gives everyone your date of birth, one of the things predators can use to find out more about you. So what if you post a few days earlier or later than your actual birthday? We'll still celebrate with ya!
* If you have business you advertise and it has a domain name, be sure to use a variation of your name, a P.O. Box and alternate e-mail address when you register the domain, not your home info, or use an anonymous registration system.

These are just a few things to get you thinking about what info you want out there. It's possible somebody can lurk for a while, learn all about you, see photos of your family, etc. You don't need somebody showing up in your neighborhood, approaching your child when he's in a neighbor's yard or the bus stop and saying, "Oh, hi, Frankie! Remember me? I met you at your birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's in August. Your mommy had to go pick up Emma at dance class early because she threw up, so I'm gonna walk you home" or whatever.

I realize that in starting this I could get flamed and a whole thread about trust and paranoia and inherent goodness and evil could evolve. Believe me, I understand the issues. I studied them intently for 10 years. I've been involved in the internet since the early 90s. I've participated in early community technology reviews, belong to groups which study the effects of community networking, etc. If you wanna talk about those aspects, start another thread and I'll meet you there.

This post is just a "heads up" for those who may be less experienced, or less familiar with how information can be farmed.

[wavery]

I realize that there are people that really offer personal threats to people but I think that the % of that is significantly small. However, what is HUGE and getting bigger and more sophisticated is identity theft.

I agree with everything that you said but I think that the bigger picture is to protect certain key elements of your identity. It's not realistic to think that you can conceal your name, home address, phone number and things that can be had by a simple Zaba search:
http://www.zabasearch.com/  (try putting your name in there, you may be shocked at what you find)

IMHO, it is more realistic to pick a few key pieces of information (like date & place of birth, Mothers maiden name, S/S#) and vow to never put them on your keyboard.

[Dee4j]

wavery..What makes you think that anything I have in my profile, post, say is actually real :p  are you sure I exist?? I could just be your worst nightmare...


Dan bet me that I couldn't ever do anything on the computer without him knowing and That if I had a 2nd e-mail he would be able to find out...he gave up after about 30 days.

O/T we are at the aquarium today for DD's field trip and she got one of those smashed pennies with the picture on it. She picked one of a Lorikeet. I asked her "why the Lorikeet " and she said "it looks like Doofus"  thought that was cute & I had to share.

[wavery]

wavery..What makes you think that anything I have in my profile, post, say is actually real :p  are you sure I exist?? I could just be your worst nightmare...


Dan bet me that I couldn't ever do anything on the computer without him knowing and That if I had a 2nd e-mail he would be able to find out...he gave up after about 30 days.

O/T we are at the aquarium today for DD's field trip and she got one of those smashed pennies with the picture on it. She picked one of a Lorikeet. I asked her "why the Lorikeet " and she said "it looks like Doofus"  thought that was cute & I had to share.

Tell her that Doofus is flattered . That's cute.....Thanx for sharing.

[3ontheGo]

Agreed. It all adds up.

[austinado16]

Thanks W*yne and 3onthego, now I'm all paranoid.......again.

[3ontheGo]

I already know where you live! I almost called you by name just now, but I realized you removed it from your profile info.

Why do I hear the Kinks playing in my head?

[Tim5055]

Thanks W*yne and 3onthego, now I'm all paranoid.......again.

Remember, it's not Paranoia if they really are talking about you.....