Non-Public Information and Data Breaches:
The two shouldn't mix!
You don’t have to worry about someone stealing your identity! Your information is already out there on the Internet. They already HAVE your information. The fact is that you simply cannot prevent someone from stealing your personal information because they've already stolen it! The REAL PROBLEM with identity theft is when someone USES your information. This month we are uncovering the damage being done by data breaches.
First, let’s understand exactly where your personal information might be. If you are an adult citizen, then your NPI (Non-Public Information) is more than likely recorded in thousands of databases. This includes your name, Social Security number, driver’s license number, address, phone number, account numbers, etc. Your information is kept in Federal, State, and Local governments, numerous businesses, medical facilities, and institutional databases. Every time you enrolled in a school, filled out an application, got a driver’s license, or went to the dentist; your non-public information was recorded in a database. But again, that isn’t the problem. The problem begins when your information falls into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, that is what happens when data is breached – it eventually falls into the wrong hands.
A Data Breach occurs when data security is compromised or lost. Let’s take a look at the data breaches listed on the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse website. Go to www.privacyrights.org/ar/ChronDataBreaches.htm and scroll down about two pages. I want you to see the hundreds of data base aggregators that have lost information already. To see the most recent data breaches, press “End” and scroll up from the bottom. Warning: Don’t print this document unless you intend to print over a hundred pages. It is a long list.
As you scroll, you will see every type of business entity (government, private, and non-profit) that has lost sensitive information to hackers, stolen laptops, disgruntled employees, and more. Notice that the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse only began in January 2005 and already over 260 million PEOPLE have been affected. We don’t know how many data losses occurred before 2005. But now that we are tracking data breaches, we are starting to see the amount of damage being done.
The amount of the damage is difficult to track with total accuracy. We can only assume that it is actually much worse. Many breaches go undetected or unreported and when “Unknown” numbers can’t be factored in, there is even more uncertainty as to the massive extent of the problem.
Let's look at what happens when businesses improperly handle data. This will help us to understand why data breaches are so frequent and how data may end up in the wrong hands.
In an attempt to protect databases from theft or fire, many small businesses periodically copy and transport their databases to off-site storage facilities. This safegaurding practice may sound good in theory but it can lead to a dangerous lack of security. Off-site storage facilities are often considered an employee’s home and in reality that may not be a secure location. The following example shows exactly what can happen during this dangerous process.
A Gynecology Clinic in Greensboro, North Carolina lost personal information on 47,000 female patients when data storage tapes were allegedly stolen. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse reported on July 16, 2008, “A backup tape of patient information was stolen from an employee who was taking the tape to an off-site storage facility for safekeeping. The stolen information included patients’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, employers, insurance companies, policy numbers, and family members.”
WOW! What else does a good identity thief need? What would a data base of that size and accuracy actually be worth to identity thieves? If you were one of those 47,000 women, how comfortable would you be in knowing that your clinic was mishandling your entire family’s private information along with your medical insurance? The next time you go to your doctor, you might want to ask about their procedures to protect your personal non-public information.
The bottom line is that IDENTITY THEFT IS HUGE. Nobody knows exactly where information is going. Certainly some information is getting lost. But how far does Private Information go in the mail or on the Internet? You can bet that the answer is in the Dollar Signs! The truth is that massive chunks of Non-Public Information are worth Instant Cash to the right Identity Theft Ring!
IS YOUR DATA BEING USED TO COMMIT A CRIME? Watch for an answer on the next blog entry when we will address the “Seven Different Types of Identity Theft” at http://www.identitytheftwatch.blogspot.com/.
There is good news for consumers and businesses. Solutions tend to emerge from within the American System to resolve serious societal problems. You can beat the Identity Thieves at their own game if you take action before they do. Ask me about our solutions. If you have any questions or would like more information, please email me at delwithppl@yahoo.com.
I hope this has been helpful. Have a super month of May.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
April Newsletter
Identity Theft in the News
It seems that Identity Theft is in the news every day. What in the world is going on? Last year when TJ Max stores reported 45.7 million credit and debit accounts lost to hackers, no one was surprised! This is just another story out of the many stories we hear about Identity Theft .
Identity theft is a huge and global problem. In response to data breaches, businesses and institutions are notifying clients, customers, patients, and students about data losses. Financial institutions are issuing new accounts numbers to thousands of consumers affected by security breaches. You can view the data breach chronology by clicking here and then scrolling down 2 pages. What you will find on this website are company names and data-breach stories such as “database was hacked into, laptop with personnel files was stolen, data storage tapes were lost,” and the list goes on. And when identity thieves are grabbing up identities by the thousands, what are we to do?
Before being victimized, consumers should be proactive. Consumers should find out how they can protect themselves. The FTC website has a great video at www.ftc.gov/idtheft. It is a very good starting point to learn what devastation waits for those who are caught off-guard.
Fortunately, there is good news for consumers. Solutions tend to emerge from within the American system to respond and solve serious societal problems. Ask me about consumer solutions later.
I hope you have found this newsletter to be super informative. Have a great month.
It seems that Identity Theft is in the news every day. What in the world is going on? Last year when TJ Max stores reported 45.7 million credit and debit accounts lost to hackers, no one was surprised! This is just another story out of the many stories we hear about Identity Theft .
Identity theft is a huge and global problem. In response to data breaches, businesses and institutions are notifying clients, customers, patients, and students about data losses. Financial institutions are issuing new accounts numbers to thousands of consumers affected by security breaches. You can view the data breach chronology by clicking here and then scrolling down 2 pages. What you will find on this website are company names and data-breach stories such as “database was hacked into, laptop with personnel files was stolen, data storage tapes were lost,” and the list goes on. And when identity thieves are grabbing up identities by the thousands, what are we to do?
Before being victimized, consumers should be proactive. Consumers should find out how they can protect themselves. The FTC website has a great video at www.ftc.gov/idtheft. It is a very good starting point to learn what devastation waits for those who are caught off-guard.
Fortunately, there is good news for consumers. Solutions tend to emerge from within the American system to respond and solve serious societal problems. Ask me about consumer solutions later.
I hope you have found this newsletter to be super informative. Have a great month.
Monday, April 13, 2009
FTC Information
The Federal Trade Commission is trying to help
When it comes to “Fighting Back Against Identity Theft,” the Federal Trade Commission is doing a great job providing information to the public. It is a tough job to convince the American public to conform to anything new. However, the damage being done annually is in the billions of dollars.
In the FTC's 46-page publication titled, "Take Charge," the FTC outlines what you can do as a consumer to protect yourself. Obtaining this booklet and getting yourself informed should be STEP ONE. Let's look at the introduction to "Taking Charge."
The FTC starts the book with a three paragraph Introduction to help consumers understand the severity of Identity Theft. It is interesting to note in paragraph 2 shown below, in italics, that the problem of Identity Theft is not just a Financial Problem. If you become a victim, your life can virtually be turned up-side-down!
"Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and thousands of dollars - cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit. Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they navigate the process of rescuing their identity."
Considering that over 250 Million American identities have already been breached, it is safe to say that it is just a matter of time before your identity will be tampered with.
Many people joke by saying, "They can have my identity!" But when the same people become victims, they change their tune quickly. The following sentence from the booklet on page 19 illustrates the legal responsibility consumers have to stay up to date with their credit.
"If an identity thief changed the address on your account and you didn't receive the bill, your dispute letter still must reach the creditor within 60 days of when the creditor would have mailed the bill."
Don't wait until you become a victim. Take steps now to protect yourself. You must at least monitor your own credit. You are responsible to protect your own identity. Be proactive, otherwise you may be left "holding the bag."
When it comes to “Fighting Back Against Identity Theft,” the Federal Trade Commission is doing a great job providing information to the public. It is a tough job to convince the American public to conform to anything new. However, the damage being done annually is in the billions of dollars.
In the FTC's 46-page publication titled, "Take Charge," the FTC outlines what you can do as a consumer to protect yourself. Obtaining this booklet and getting yourself informed should be STEP ONE. Let's look at the introduction to "Taking Charge."
The FTC starts the book with a three paragraph Introduction to help consumers understand the severity of Identity Theft. It is interesting to note in paragraph 2 shown below, in italics, that the problem of Identity Theft is not just a Financial Problem. If you become a victim, your life can virtually be turned up-side-down!
"Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and thousands of dollars - cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit. Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they navigate the process of rescuing their identity."
Considering that over 250 Million American identities have already been breached, it is safe to say that it is just a matter of time before your identity will be tampered with.
Many people joke by saying, "They can have my identity!" But when the same people become victims, they change their tune quickly. The following sentence from the booklet on page 19 illustrates the legal responsibility consumers have to stay up to date with their credit.
"If an identity thief changed the address on your account and you didn't receive the bill, your dispute letter still must reach the creditor within 60 days of when the creditor would have mailed the bill."
Don't wait until you become a victim. Take steps now to protect yourself. You must at least monitor your own credit. You are responsible to protect your own identity. Be proactive, otherwise you may be left "holding the bag."
Friday, April 10, 2009
IDT in Talk Radio
Hi Del,
I was listening to a talk radio show the other morning and they were talking about illegal aliens stealing Americans' identities.
A woman called and said that her husband's identity was stolen by two different illegal aliens. The first illegal used her husband's ID to get apartments, cell phones, and utilities. He opened and used a jewelry store credit card and never paid for anything. All those bills went to collections under her husband's name. The other illegal took his ID to Oregon and got a job using her husband's social security number. The IRS came after her husband because he never paid his taxes for over $24,000 in income. He never worked in Oregon, it was the illegal alien. This happened in 1999 and it is STILL not resolved yet.
This is becoming a common story these days. It happens all the time. I thought you would be interested in this story. This was a woman in our local area. - Carly
I was listening to a talk radio show the other morning and they were talking about illegal aliens stealing Americans' identities.
A woman called and said that her husband's identity was stolen by two different illegal aliens. The first illegal used her husband's ID to get apartments, cell phones, and utilities. He opened and used a jewelry store credit card and never paid for anything. All those bills went to collections under her husband's name. The other illegal took his ID to Oregon and got a job using her husband's social security number. The IRS came after her husband because he never paid his taxes for over $24,000 in income. He never worked in Oregon, it was the illegal alien. This happened in 1999 and it is STILL not resolved yet.
This is becoming a common story these days. It happens all the time. I thought you would be interested in this story. This was a woman in our local area. - Carly
Illegal & Driving
Does Insurance Pay when the Insured is an Identity Thief?
Burlington, NC – On Sunday afternoon, April 5, 2009, a 41-year-old female driving a Dodge truck allegedly plows through a red light at an intersection hitting two vehicles. A 60-year-old woman driving a truck and a 43-year-old man riding a motorcycle were innocently traveling through the same intersection at that instant when they were struck from the side by the Dodge truck. The 60-year-old victim survived. The man on the motorcycle was killed. However, his 9-year-old son on the back of the motorcycle survived.
Sadly the female driving the Dodge truck was an Illegal Immigrant. She was issued a citation by an officer last year on July 11th. The officer said that she presented some form of identification last year that appeared valid (ID THEFT). So last year this Illegal Immigrant received a citation and was released. She even went to court on July 31st last year, pleaded guilty, paid her fine and court cost, and was released again by the court system! So this year she allegedly kills somebody AND gets away with Identity Theft.
Crimes like this are happening all over America. You can go to the Times-News story from Burlington, NC at http://www.thetimesnews.com/ to read the actual story.
After thoughts: How will the affected families deal with the devastation of this accident? How will that 9-year-old boy cope with the loss of his father?
Who’s left holding the bag when an Illegal Immigrant can’t get auto insurance or the vehicle and the insurance are in a false name? What character or criminal record damage will become of the person whose identity was stolen by this woman? How do we catch the Identity Thief who STOLE and SOLD someone else's name and social security information to this illegal immigrant?
Burlington, NC – On Sunday afternoon, April 5, 2009, a 41-year-old female driving a Dodge truck allegedly plows through a red light at an intersection hitting two vehicles. A 60-year-old woman driving a truck and a 43-year-old man riding a motorcycle were innocently traveling through the same intersection at that instant when they were struck from the side by the Dodge truck. The 60-year-old victim survived. The man on the motorcycle was killed. However, his 9-year-old son on the back of the motorcycle survived.
Sadly the female driving the Dodge truck was an Illegal Immigrant. She was issued a citation by an officer last year on July 11th. The officer said that she presented some form of identification last year that appeared valid (ID THEFT). So last year this Illegal Immigrant received a citation and was released. She even went to court on July 31st last year, pleaded guilty, paid her fine and court cost, and was released again by the court system! So this year she allegedly kills somebody AND gets away with Identity Theft.
Crimes like this are happening all over America. You can go to the Times-News story from Burlington, NC at http://www.thetimesnews.com/ to read the actual story.
After thoughts: How will the affected families deal with the devastation of this accident? How will that 9-year-old boy cope with the loss of his father?
Who’s left holding the bag when an Illegal Immigrant can’t get auto insurance or the vehicle and the insurance are in a false name? What character or criminal record damage will become of the person whose identity was stolen by this woman? How do we catch the Identity Thief who STOLE and SOLD someone else's name and social security information to this illegal immigrant?
Welcome
This Blog is designed to help educate those interested in protecting their businesses or families against the threat of Identity Theft.
Whether you run a business or a household, it is in your best interest to be informed. Postings will be periodic.
The Blog targeted directly to businesses concerned about protecting customers' and employees' non-public information is found at http://www.identitytheftnewswatch.blogspot.com/. If you have any questions, please email me at delwithppl (at) yahoo (dot) com.
Whether you run a business or a household, it is in your best interest to be informed. Postings will be periodic.
The Blog targeted directly to businesses concerned about protecting customers' and employees' non-public information is found at http://www.identitytheftnewswatch.blogspot.com/. If you have any questions, please email me at delwithppl (at) yahoo (dot) com.
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