| Author | Message | ||
     Ray_maines |
I've always posted on this and other BBS's using my real and whole name, I buy things from Amazon.Com and other online shoping sites, my profile is pretty honest and complete, and I'm in the local phone book. I've never given any of that a second thought until someone (a policeman, actually) on a different BBS suggested that I might be leaving myself open and vulnerable to Identity Theft. I've always felt that if I kept my credit card and checking account numbers secure that I would be safe from harm but perhaps I'm wrong. What thinkest thou? What sort of things should the average, internet active person do to protect themselves from Identity Theft and how worried should any of us be? | ||
| Glitch |
Me, I'm kinda paranoid. But then again I have to keep the cyber-bad-guys in check. One of the guys I work with likens the technology age we live in with the wild west. Now days it's just as easy to get the information they need from your trash, as it is to hack someone's data base. Other than your name and your city/state, there's not a lot to go on with your profile here. But, if I had access to the DMV (if you were in Georgia this wouldn't be that big of a deal for me) in your state I could get more information than you would be comfortable with by looking up the VIN# in your profile (which ain't there I noticed). My opinion is you're more at risk with profiles on the internet from someone coming after you cause you pissed them off in some flame war. Identity theft is more a crime of opportunity, not something like hunting people out on the board profiles, it's just too much work. So to me, just give enough information so that people know you're a real person, but not enough to gleen any real info on you. I don't think using your real name is bad unless someone you flamed decided to look you up in the phone book and call you every night at 3am just to hassle you. | ||
| Chainsaw |
Most ID theft involves your Social Security Number. Keep it secret, give it out only when absolutely necessary. | ||
| Dynarider |
I dont worry about it, course there are also folks who will never ever reveal their real name on the web, never post any pics, etc etc. None of that bothers me 1 bit. Like they said, keep your numbers to yourself & its all good. | ||
| Dullorb |
Simple rule of thumb, if it's in the phonebook it's fine. Really just avoid giving out social security number and any financial stuff. | ||
| Swampy |
But gosh guys, I just had a surgery the day before Thanksgiving and one after Thanksgiving, and the hospital wanted all that info!!! I'm pretty hostile and stubborn about the identity thing and all but what if some crackerjack decided to do the hospital computer for fun? I'd be sunk for a few light years. I mean it's their number not mine so who cares? | ||
| Jst |
I'm pretty hostile and stubborn about the identity thing and all but what if some crackerjack decided to do the hospital computer for fun? That's why they started the HIPAA compliance act. HIPAA All hospitals and medical facilities are subject to regulations on protecting patient information that would make your head spin. The facilities that I worked with took it veeeeeerrrryyyy seriously. Immediate termination was always the rule for failure to follow the guidelines. Network security is the single highest importance. | ||
| Swampy |
Yeah, right, medical piracy. One time at the family doctors they were asking all sorts of questions, and when I asked why, the nurse said its some new federal regulation, I got kind of stuffy withem at that point. The federales have no business whats in my records, Why should they care? Anyways the nurse won, she's the shot giver, right? So now they know everything, but I can only think of how important the Ark Of The Covenant is and the feds just stuck it away in some dusty wharehouse, my info can't be that important compared to that, right?  | ||
| Bradj |
Ray, My only concern would be that people might think you are Natalie's father [Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks]... she annoyed a few people a while back.  | ||
| Roc |
Type your phone # into google and search. Most land lines will yield a name, address, and offer direction. Ebay will give out your phone #. Most SSN's are set by state of birth, I think. I've also seen public sites that use the last 4 digets as an assigned reference. So then someone only needs to come up with 2 numbers? Many pay sites give out home #, address, and SSN. | ||
| Chainsaw |
Good point Roc ...my SSN digits reflect the state I was living in when requested. (always the oddball) | ||
| Chainsaw |
One other goofy thing ID theft normally requires is your Date of Birth. All of those web sites that request my DOB I "accidentally" transpose some of the digits. Sometimes I list my birth year as 1911. |
