Interesting People mailing list archives
Re: Identity theft protection?
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 10:52:02 -0400
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 billpayments) 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 ifthe 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 withLifeLock. As the leader in identity theft protection, LifeLock worksto 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 ofthe kind is worthwhile I'll check around for competitive alternatives.Seems like if I think the probability of ID theft is 5% and theaggravation of repair is $2K I should do this -- but both the 5% andthe $2K are wild guesses. Thanks, Mary ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com -- Michael Cohen POB 11580 Casa Grande, AZ 85230"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardlystand 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Archives <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now><https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/> [Powered by Listbox]<http://www.listbox.com>
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Current thread:
- Identity theft protection? David Farber (May 16)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Identity theft protection? David Farber (May 16)
- Re: Identity theft protection? David Farber (May 16)
- Re: Identity theft protection? David Farber (May 17)
- Re: Identity theft protection? David Farber (May 18)