IDENTITY THEFT
For
passwords on financial accounts, do not use your mother’s maiden name, your birth
date, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your phone number or
a series of consecutive numbers.
Do
not sign the back of your credit cards.
Instead, put “PHOTO ID REQUIRED”.
When
you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, do not put the
complete account number on the “For” line.
Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number and anyone
who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check‑processing
channels will not have access to it.
Next
time you order checks, have only your initials and last name put on them,
instead of first name and last name. If
someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with
just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign
your checks.
Put
your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead
of your home address. If you do not
have a PO Box, use your work address.
Never have your Social Security number or Driver License number printed
on your checks.
Place
the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Copy both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet
and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also, carry a photocopy of your passport
when traveling, either here or abroad.
When
you check out of a hotel/motel that uses cards for keys, do not turn the “keys”
in. Take them with you and destroy
them. Those little cards have all of
the information you gave the hotel, including address, credit/debit card number
and expiration date. Someone with a
card reader or employee of the hotel can access all that information with ease
STOLEN WALLETS
Cancel
your credit/debit cards immediately.
The key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so
you know whom to call. Keep those where
you can find them.
File
a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit/debit cards,
etc., were stolen. This proves to
credit/financial providers you were diligent and this is a first step toward an
investigation, if there ever is one.
However,
here is what is perhaps most important of all.
Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to
place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert means any company that checks your
credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone
to authorize new credit.
Here
are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet and contents being
stolen:
Equifax 1 (800) 525-6285
or alternate 1
(800) 685-1111
Experian 1 (888) 397-3742
or alternate 1
(800) 682-7654
Trans Union 1 (800) 680-7289
or alternates
1 (800) 888-4213 1 (800)
916-8800
Social Security Administration fraud line 1 (800) 269-0271
ACCOUNT
NUMBERS
Your Social Security number, Driver License number, Bank Account number
and Date of Birth are private. Do not
give them out.
One photo identification or two non‑photo
identifications are reasonable and all that can mandated. Offer to pay cash in advance for services
rendered. With regard to rent,
utilities, etc., offer to put up a cash deposit to be returned at the end of
one calendar year together with interest accrued at 4% APR and provided that
monthly payments are made on time.
You should not give your Social Security number to the police or any
government agency other than the Social Security Administration, Internal
Revenue Service, Selective Service System, a branch of the United States Armed
Forces, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Education or a Department
of Social and Health Services.
You should not give your Social Security number when you get your next
Driver License (currently, federal law requires it) or register to vote. These agencies have public records. Anyone is entitled to get this information
and go from there to get more information about you. State Departments of Motor Vehicles sell this information. That is why they ask for your Social
Security number.
The only private companies required to have your Social Security number
are those reporting income of yours to the Social Security Administration or
Internal Revenue Service, such as employers, financial institutions,
corporations that you hold stock in, etc.
They do not need your Driver License number, Date of Birth or other Bank
Account numbers. It is not necessary to
give your Social Security number or Driver License number in order to open a
checking account. A signature and photo
identification is all that is necessary.
Financial institutions sell this information. Look elsewhere. There are
plenty of financial institutions that want your business. Employers are required to have your Social
Security number only after you are hired.
They are not entitled to receive it prior to hiring.
What can someone do with a Social Security number? All major credit reporting agencies list you
by your Social Security number. Other
national “Big Brother” information agencies are compiling lists by Social
Security numbers. Private information
to be sold to anyone for a price.
Thieves have filed phony Income Tax Returns with real Social Security
numbers and their owners names, but different addresses for big refunds. Who does the Internal Revenue Service go
after for this money? You guessed
it. Many times, this data is obtained
by computer hackers, many times from medical providers.
When you apply for credit, they want all of this information. Consider how much you want or need the
credit. If you apply to rent or for
employment and do not give this information, are subsequently turned down or not
hired, consider filing a discrimination suit.
With Date of Birth, anyone can get your Driver License number. The only ones that legitimately need your
Driver License number besides the police are auto insurance agents and
companies. Get a statement from them
that the information will not be given out or sold. They not only sell this information themselves, but contract with
investigative agencies for a report on you.
These investigative agencies compile and then resell the information.
When you write a check, they want your Driver License number. Of course, there are a lot of rubber checks
written. Consider paying cash. Some stores now want your Driver License
number when you return goods previously purchased. Unless they have signs posted notifying of their policy regarding
the return of goods that gives notice of this requirement, then refuse. Threaten a civil tort suit and the filing of
a complaint charging criminal fraud with the attorney general or district
attorney. Boycott the bastards. Tell your friends.
With Bank Account numbers, anyone can put in a “demand draft” to your
bank and get money. Sometimes, this is
limited only to checking accounts. You
cannot even put in a stop payment in advance.
The only thing you can do is file a civil tort suit against the entity
that put in the demand. You can sue the
bank. However under current laws, you
will most likely not be successful. Be
safe, keep only a reasonable amount in your checking account.
The price of freedom
is eternal
vigilance.
Thomas
Jefferson
There
are no laws requiring the recording, photocopying, scanning, etc., of picture
and non‑picture identification.
Do not let them do so. Write to
your elected representatives. Demand
that they legislate against these practices that invade your privacy and place
your life savings in jeopardy of thieves.
Demand that the Medicare number you have to give to healthcare providers
be different from your Social Security number.
Demand that the United States Attorney General enforce prevailing laws
that restrict the demand for these numbers.
HOSPITALS
Identity
theft is prevalent. The combination of
Social Security number and Driver License number is dangerous and extremely
foolish to give out.
Many
hospitals demand Driver License numbers.
They say it is required by federal law regarding anyone being admitted
to a hospital. Ask for a copy of that
law. If you are on Medicare, they
already have your Social Security number from your Medicare card. Ask whether any other form of identification
is acceptable.
Below
are the Federal 4 pages of “Red Flag” rules.
There
is nothing in the 4 pages stating that a Driver License number is required by
federal law regarding anyone being admitted to a hospital. In truth and in fact, there is no federal
law requiring a Driver License number regarding anyone being admitted to a
hospital.
Does
the hospital have a posting at the front desk stating that a Driver License
number is required regarding anyone being admitted?
Does
the medical team have a posting at their front desk stating that a Driver
License number is required regarding anyone being admitted to the hospital?
When
you pre‑registered at the hospital, did they say that you would have to
show identification at the time you were admitted for surgery?
Demanding
a Driver License number just before surgery without any prior notice is both
intimidation and a civil rights violation, and should be prosecuted by both the
United States Attorney General and the State Attorney General.
United States
Department of Veterans’ Affairs medical identification cards do not have Social
Security numbers, but instead have a barcode and a picture of the
individual. Medicare cards should be
the same, not using Social Security numbers.
There is enough good sense
in the American people
to battle every attempt
against their
liberty.
Alexander
Hamilton
The
United States Congress and every state assembly/legislature should pass
specific laws restricting the demand for a Social Security number or Driver
License number and prohibit the recording, photocopying, scanning, etc., of
picture and non‑picture identification.
It is not only a matter of privacy, it will prevent identity theft. At the present time, government is making
identity theft easy.
The
United States Department of Justice has ruled that anyone asking/demanding
to see a Driver license for identification must have signs posted to that
effect; and with regard to seeing picture identification when voting at polls,
the picture must be on voter registration card. Obviously, this ruling would imply the same for Medicare and
Medicaid cards.
If you are refused care, file, on behalf of all patients who have
likewise been intimidated and their civil rights violated, a class action,
criminal conspiracy civil tort lawsuit under the RICO Act of 1970 (RACKETEER
INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS ACT) against all of the officers and
directors of the hospital, their affiliated corporations, associated companies
and subsidiaries.
“THE THEFT OR IMPROPER REMOVAL OF PATIENT DATA
HAS BEEN A REPEATED PROBLEM AT HOSPITALS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN MAJOR INCIDENTS AT HOSPITALS
IN BALTIMORE, MINNEAPOLIS AND THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION; AND IN FEBRUARY, THE
HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORP. IN NEW YORK CITY NOTIFIED 1.7 MILLION PATIENTS,
STAFF AND VENDORS AT JACOBI MEDICAL CENTER IN THE BRONX THAT THEIR PERSONAL
INFORMATION WAS ON ELECTRONIC FILES STOLEN FROM THE HOSPITAL.” Hartford Courant, April 5, 2011
www.courant.com/health/connecticut/hc-buck-database-theft-at-midstate-0420110405,0,3359315.story
“BEWARE: SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AVAILABLE ONLINE VIA INDEXED TAX
DOCUMENTS — TO CLARIFY, THESE ARE TAX DOCUMENTS, AS THEY HAVE BEEN,
WILL BE SUBMITTED TO STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: NAMES, ADDRESSES, INCOME,
PHONE NUMBERS, CREDIT CARD NUMBERS (STORED FROM E‑FILING) AND, WORST OF
ALL, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS. THE
LATTER IS THE MOST DETRIMENTAL OF ALL.
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL FILING THEIR TAXES HAVING THEIR
IDENTITY POTENTIALLY STOLEN, BUT BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CHILDREN THAT
THEY USE FOR TAX CREDITS.
“AS ANY
PARENT KNOWS, YOU MUST INCLUDE CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN WHEN
USING THEM FOR TAX BREAKS, NAMELY, THEIR NAMES AND SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBERS. THAT TAKES IDENTITY THEFT INTO
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE, SINCE A CHILD HAVING THEIR IDENTITY STOLEN
MOST LIKELY WILL NOT FIND OUT UNTIL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, LONG AFTER THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE AND THE PERPETRATOR
HAS VANISHED. THE POTENTIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH IGNORANCE ARE FAR-REACHING.” ZDNet, April 11 2011
www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/beware-social-security-numbers-available-online-via-indexed-tax-documents/2819
“THE RECORDS OF ABOUT 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBERS, WERE ERRONEOUSLY PLACED ON A PUBLIC COMPUTER SERVER AT THE TEXAS
COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE AND REMAINED THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR UNTIL OFFICIALS
DISCOVERED THE MISTAKE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, THE AGENCY ACKNOWLEDGED TODAY.
“THE RECORDS INCLUDED THE NAMES AND
MAILING ADDRESSES OF INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, SAID
OFFICIALS. TO VARYING DEGREES, THE MATERIAL RELEASED PERSONAL INFORMATION SUCH
AS DATES OF BIRTH OR DRIVER LICENSE NUMBERS.”
Star‑Telegram April 11, 2011
www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/11/2991593/texas-comptrollers-office-mistakenly.html
