Re: Identity theft protection?

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Andrew C Burnette <acb () acb net>
Date: May 17, 2009 10:40:40 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] Re:   Identity theft protection?

http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html

varies by state (mainly the fee or no fee aspect) but simply lock your
credit report with the three [not at all interested in your well being]
credit agencies.

It also significantly reduces the amount of junk mail you'll receive as
well (mailboxes are a very accessible target to snag the required info
to impersonate you financially)

http://www.junkbusters.com/optout.html  some decent sample letters to
opt out of similar related garbage.

It's the same issue that many of us have with other privacy laws.
Secondary companies (companies with biz relationships to a company you
do business with) have near zero liability when it comes to screw ups
and outing your personal info.

Much as with HIPAA, the primary company you do business with only has to
provide "in a reasonable fashion" for privacy via contract, and as you
have no relationship whatsoever to the secondary companies (e.g.
outsourcing of medical record transcriptions, or processing of bill
payments) you have near zero recourse in holding them lawfully  
accountable.

I found it very creepy that I had filled a scrip for an antibiotic at
Target in another state some 7 years ago while on a business trip, and
went for a similar one time scrip fill in yet a different state (neither
were my state of residence at any time). Not only did they connect me to
my insurance carrier (without my presenting a card) but did so after I
had moved interstate twice, and changed jobs twice.

Very creepy indeed. Particularly when the insurance went through.

Best regards,
Andy Burnette

David Farber wrote:
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From: *Michael Cohen <mcohen1125 () gmail com <mailto:mcohen1125 () gmail com 
> >>
> *Date: *May 16, 2009 8:02:43 PM EDT
> *To: *dave () farber net <mailto:dave () farber net>
> *Subject: **Re: [IP] Identity theft protection?*
>
> Mary,
>
> These insurances are basically garbage. The "protection" is not good  
> if
> the theft is caused by any action you took. So, if you inadvertently
> download a malicious program and it leads to identity theft that's too
> bad for you. You downloaded the program. Read the fine print very
> carefully. Remember: caveat emptor.
>
> Michael Cohen
>
>
> On Sat, May 16, 2009 at 1:39 PM, David Farber <dave () farber net
> <mailto:dave () farber net>> wrote:
>
>
>
>    Begin forwarded message:
>
>    From: "Mary Shaw" <mary.shaw () cs cmu edu <mailto:mary.shaw () cs cmu edu 
> >>
>    Date: May 16, 2009 1:40:07 PM EDT
>    To: "Dave Farber" <dave () farber net <mailto:dave () farber net>>
>    Subject: Identity theft protection?
>
>    Dave,
>
>    I just got a teaser for identity theft protection.
>
>    What's the prevailing opinion in the internet/IP community about
>    what, if anything, such coverage is worth and what features make it
>    worth that?
>
>    More specifically, the offer is for "Protect your identity with
>    LifeLock. As the leader in identity theft protection, LifeLock  
> works
>    to help stop identity theft before it happens - even if your
>    information falls into the wrong hands. What they don't stop,
>    they'll fix at their expense, up to $1,000,000. "
>    and I'm being offered $90 for 13 months.  Naturally, if anything of
>    the kind is worthwhile I'll check around for competitive  
> alternatives.
>
>    Seems like if I think the probability of ID theft is 5% and the
>    aggravation of repair is $2K I should do this -- but both the 5%  
> and
>    the $2K are wild guesses.
>
>    Thanks,
>
>    Mary
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
> --
> Michael Cohen
> POB 11580
> Casa Grande, AZ 85230
>
> "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could  
> hardly
> stand to have the old man around.
> But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had
> learned in seven years."
> Mark Twain,"Old Times on the Mississippi" Atlantic Monthly, 1874
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