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[IP] I Cringley on ID Theft




Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 12:20:40 -0500
From: John Lyon <jelyon@xxxxxxx>
Subject: I Cringley on ID Theft
To: Dave Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>

Might be of interest to IP:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20030911.html

Identity theft is not only incredibly easy to do, but our government seems to go out of its way to help the thieves. The government is making many Americans more vulnerable, not less. This is crime just waiting to happen on a massive scale, thanks to computer technology.

Identity theft is generally a pretty low-tech crime. The bad guys steal your mail or pilfer your trash, coming up with enough personal information to apply for bank accounts, credit cards and loans with your name and credit rating but with their address. They can even appropriate your existing accounts. All it takes is having your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. Before you know it the crooks have bought goods, bounced checks, and drained your bank accounts, leaving a world of heartbreak for the victims as they try to repair the damage.

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