Talk about Identity Theft!

More.. http://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/misused.html

The most misused SSN of all time was (078-05-1120). In 1938, wallet manufacturer the E. H. Ferree company in Lockport, New York decided to promote its product by showing how a Social Security card would fit into its wallets. A sample card, used for display purposes, was inserted in each wallet. Company Vice President and Treasurer Douglas Patterson thought it would be a clever idea to use the actual SSN of his secretary, Mrs. Hilda Schrader Whitcher.

Cute tale, but I am not sure why this is in the courthouse. ID theft is the biggest, most detrimental, widespread domestic issue that little to nothing is being done about. Like drunk driving, there is a secret lobby that somehow keeps ID theft easy when one page of legislation could change it forever. Here I will make it so it should be here.

Keep in mind that it is not really ID theft when anyone's number is readily available, but can then be used to do just about anything with another persons financial and legal life. It is like calling it bike theft when you stop by the store in the center of denver, leave 100 bikes in a rack at 11 pm with no locks and state how if you take these bikes and commit crimes, that the manufacturer will be liable.

2 Rules and we are done with this sh*t.

1. If you loan money, start an account for someone or otherwise. You personally and the firm lending, accounting is liable for confirming the ID of the victim. Meaning any evidence that they were incorrect and it is their problem. You are assumed to not owe anything unless they can prove that you do. Result is that banks and RV dealerships will be much more carefull cause they can loose big time if they do not ID someone.

2. If you (or your firm or your subcontractors) collect personal information about any US citizen, including but not limited to SS#, birthday, account numbers, IP address, childrens names, etc. You are liable for the protection of that info. Each loss of each piece data results in a $10,000 fine payable to the person whose data was lost. In other words when charter looses 1,000 SS# and birthdays to a hack, they owe those people each $2,000 for 2 pcs of data lost x 1000 people or 20,000,000. Something tells me Charter will not ask for such info. They will also not only dispose of the existing data, they will burn it and the pres will do it personally, including actual servers. This fine is for simple loss, not misuse.

Keep in mind that this does not have to be national. CO can make such laws and simply require that all businesses that do any business in the state meet such rules. They can even say that businesses in CO can only do business with firms that follow such rules. Even one town or county can do this (don't worry, I wont even bother calling the BOCC anymore, it is like calling verizon). If done in one town, it will spread, people will have trouble doing business without complying in the area and every govt entity that does not do this looks neglectful.

You can also require that such loans or account only be approved based on confirmed factual data, thus the credit/data industry looses power, because that info is not confirmed or even known to be accurate, but used as if it was none the less.

Did you know that in many places you need to give you SS# so that you can even rent an instrument for your kid for the season and anyone can deny you business for not providing this #, even though your entire financial life can be ruined by giving it.

But interesting enough, we actually help this process along, by hiding this kind of stuff in the Courthouse

I posted it in the CH thinking it would be a discussion. Where else did you want it?

But interesting enough, we actually help this process along, by hiding this kind of stuff in the Courthouse

???

How is it hidden, when the Courthouse is one of the few forums prominently displayed on the Home page? And of course, is also included in View active topics and View new posts.

Hey, I think it is an interesting story and would love to see some info on identity theft. I was not trying to hide it. the CH is our most popular forum. PYY, I can tell this is an important topic for you.

I'm trying to decide exactly how this is hidden, since I saw it on the front page and clicked it first of anything.