IP: Re: How to Become a Victim of Identity Theft

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> X-Sender: tgoltz () mail quietsoftware com
> X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1
> Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 10:33:04 -0400
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> From: Tom Goltz <tgoltz () QuietSoftware com>
> Subject: Re: IP: How to Become a Victim of Identity Theft
>
> At 09:34 AM 8/20/2001 -0400, you wrote:
> > > So you want to become a victim of identity theft? Congratulations!
> > > It's never been easier.
>
> Sadly, this is very true.  Lest anyone think that these recommendations 
> are sufficient, let me relate my tale.
>
> In October of last year, I became a victim of identity theft.  I found it 
> ironic, since I have been directing all my correspondence to a Post Office 
> box for over ten years, and I own and religiously use a paper 
> shredder.  My mistake was having a California Driver's License.  In order 
> to get this document, I had to supply my home address and Social Security 
> number.  Until very, very recently, the state of California was in the 
> habit of selling complete copies of this database "for marketing 
> purposes," and would give the information on an individual to anyone who 
> asked.  Although I have no way of proving it, I strongly believe this was 
> how my personal information came to be in the hands of one "James Thompson."
>
> To make a long story short, $15,000 worth of fraud in California, and one 
> attempt at about $6,000 in Las Vegas later, Mr Thompson was arrested in 
> Las Vegas.  He was charged with attempted fraud, and identity 
> theft.  California wasn't interested in extraditing or prosecuting, since 
> each local jurisdiction (there were four) would have had to prosecute 
> individually.  I was told that California would not extradite anyone for 
> less than $250,000 in fraud.  Mr. Thompson plea-bargained in Nevada, the 
> identity theft charge was dropped, and he received probation for the 
> attempted fraud.  Three months in jail for $15,000?  Excellent return on 
> investment!
>
> A tip of my hat to the store security chief who identified the fraud while 
> it was in progress, contacted me to confirm it, and arrested the 
> criminal.  Having someone to hang the fraud on made my life infinitely 
> easier while cleaning up my credit.
>
> In addition to the recommendations to the article, I would sign up for one 
> of the credit history monitoring programs offered by many of the credit 
> card companies.  For $40/year, the one I use pulls my credit on a monthly 
> basis from all three reporting companies and informs me of changes.   I 
> also recommend writing the Social Security administration for a 
> report.  If someone has used your identity to secure employment the taxes 
> they pay will show up here.
>
>
> Tom Goltz
> Software Engineering Services
> (603) 594-9922
> (603) 594-9939 (fax)



For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/