Interesting People mailing list archives
IP: Pol Wages War on Identity Theft
From: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 08:25:05 -0500
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 07:46:35 -0500 From: Ken Fisher <cyberpol () pipeline com>
From New York Daily News
Pol Wages War Against ID Theft ut out the papers and the trash, but first you might want to buy a paper shredder. Brooklyn Councilman Ken Fisher warned yesterday that "identity thieves" may be targeting paper goods left at the curb for recycling. They're looking for crumpled-up and even ripped credit card receipts, bank statements, Social Security information and other material that could be used to carry out fraud, according to Fisher. He said identity theft is a $1 billion racket nationally, and crooks could have easy pickings when the city goes on a weekly recycling schedule by April next year. As a preventive measure, Fisher is introducing a bill today in the City Council to make paper-napping a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Sanitation officials said they have had no reports of paper filching but Fisher, a Democrat, decided to sponsor the legislation after he and his neighbors in Brooklyn Heights had their recycled paper purloined. People give up ownership rights when they put the paper out for recycling, Fisher noted. His new law would allow police to apprehend paper pilferers before any fraud is committed, he added. But Fisher isn't taking any chances. He bought a shredder. Frank Lombardi Original Publication Date: 3/16/99
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- IP: Pol Wages War on Identity Theft Dave Farber (Mar 17)