Identity theft, Privacy issues

candyliquor35m

I've never had my identity stolen but it seems to be on the rise so over the years, I've tried to find ways to keep my personal info out of the public domain. I haven't done any research on the subject so these are just my personal ideas and my personal belief is that we give out our personal information to nearly any tom, dick or harry that asks for it.

Basically I try not to give out my real name, ssn, DOB, phone #, address, etc unless it's going to be verified by the requesting party or needed to fullfill obligations to third parties like the IRS.

1. Ordering online: I never use my real name or phone #. I use an expendable yahoo email account to receive order and shipping confirmations. They don't verify my name even when I use a credit card. I've heard some of them verify my first and last name initials so I use a name with the same initials as mine. I mail a money order in instead of using a cc whenever possible.

2. Dentists/Doctors visits: Yes I use my real name . I use a fake SSN, DOB, etc unless they're needed to verify insurance or something. I leave SSN blank unless they verbally insist on having it after they review my paperwork.

3. ISP/Cable etc: I don't use my real name, SSN, DOB, etc. It's none of their business.

4. Cell: I probably gave them all the correct info because it was so long ago but if I had to do it again, I'd probably give them nothing accurate except my address unless they ask to see my drivers license which would give them my real name and DOB. Unfortunately they probably do a credit check which makes it hard to hide the SSN and maybe even the DOB.

5. Bank accounts: I recently opened a high-yield money market account online and gave them all the correct info except my DOB.

6. Utilities: again this was so long ago, they have all my personal info but if and when I have to do it over again, they will get as little as possible. Unfortunately they probably do a credit check which makes it hard to hide the SSN and maybe even the DOB.

7. Ordering pizza: I don't use my real name, it's none of their business.

8. I did have some luck (I think), calling cell, credit card and utility companies back after the account was opened and asking them to change my SSN to all zeros because last year I was a victim of identity theft and this is what my lawyer recommended (not true but I think some of them bought it).

Paranoid yes but I'd like to know other ways to protect myself from identity theft without becoming a complete hermit :eek:

Demiurge

Hope you don't get busted for fraud.

Maybe there is something wrong with those fillings of yours.

zombie boy 2000

candyliquor35m wrote:

7. Ordering pizza: don't use your real name, it's none of their business.

I'll be sure to tell someone in the food industry working for McMininum wage that it is "none of their g-dam bidness" next time their fixing me a meal:D

ohskigod

I'd be stunned if a credit card company was dumb enough to chabge the ss number on file to all 0's

Identity fraud is out there.....yes. just like car accidents and tornados. take all the action you want against it, and it can still happen.

best thing to do is keep tabs on your credit bureau. you really should do it at least twice a year, especially if your going to buy a house within like 3-5 years.

at least once a year is prudent for all, call one bureau, and they will send all three. you are entitled to a free credit bureau once every year. look over it in detail, if a trade line does not belong to you, look into it and dispute it asap (you can dispute derrogatory information to, if the reporting agency does not respond to it, it gets cleared off your credit, little trick for the bad credit folks who need a little help)

cant be paranoid about, but catching it quick does make it easier. its not the end of the world if it happens, but it can be a pain in the arse

bobman1235

Holy **** dude, paranoid much?

I can see being protective of your SSN, but beyond that... lying about your name when ordering goods doesn't seem like a good idea. Not giving your name to a pizza delivery boy is just full-on delusional paranoia. If anyone wants your NAME and address, no matter how hard you try to hide it the information is SIMPLE to obtain. I don't see what harm giving your NAME to a PIZZA boy could possibly do.

Seriously, get outta the bunker and breathe some fresh air, life's too short brother.

PhantomOG

candyliquor35m wrote:

I've never had my identity stolen but .... because last year I was a victim of identity theft ...

Refusing to give SSN is vastly different from knowingly providing a false one.

Your one of the can't see the forest for all the trees guy aren't you? Mailing money orders? That sounds real safe. I find it much easier just to monitor my credit reports on a regular basis than trying to play super secret agent man.

Good luck to you. I think those fillings and vaccines really got to you. :rolleyes:

F1nut

I see a padded room in your future, maybe even a jail cell.

MikeC78

F1nut wrote:

I see a padded room in your future, maybe even a jail cell.

LOL!!!

This is definetly sig worthy!!!:D Someone please hurry... Grab this famous quote before someone else does!

BTW, What is your license plate number? You drive around and advertise it everyday, do you have a cover over it? I can find out your whole life history, bud!

Mike

seo

bobman1235 wrote:

Holy **** dude, paranoid much?

Hg poisoning.:rolleyes:

MikeC78

bobman1235 wrote:

Holy **** dude, paranoid much?

I can see being protective of your SSN, but beyond that... lying about your name when ordering goods doesn't seem like a good idea. Not giving your name to a pizza delivery boy is just full-on delusional paranoia. If anyone wants your NAME and address, no matter how hard you try to hide it the information is SIMPLE to obtain. I don't see what harm giving your NAME to a PIZZA boy could possibly do.

Seriously, get outta the bunker and breathe some fresh air, life's too short brother.

Yeah, using a fake name isn't cool dude! Especially when ordering goods, you might even trigger the DEA!

TroyD

**** parade in full swing...

BDT

cfrizz

Are you sure it wasn't mercury?:D

seo wrote:

Hg poisoning.:rolleyes:

candyliquor35m

cfrizz wrote:

Are you sure it wasn't mercury?:D

It is was it is. The point is where should we draw the line in giving out personal information. I've chosen to draw the line at point zero whenever possible. I have no idea whether this will keep my identity from being stolen but at least I'm thinking about it and being proactive. Yes SSN and DOB is personal information that really shouldn't be given to anyone except the IRS but unfortunately the credit bureaus have chosen to use SSN and DOB as their database identifier so that means anyone that requires your credit report before they will do business with you becomes another source for possible identity theft.

dkg999

You can do all of what you listed, and they've still got 100 additional ways to leave your lover, errrrr, steal your identity :eek: Most times it will either be from something so simple you didn't even think about it, or so hi-tech you can't prevent it.

Polkersince85

The last football game I watched, when they went into a huddle before each play, I think they were talking about me. :eek:

candyliquor35m

Polkersince85 wrote:

The last football game I watched, when they went into a huddle before each play, I think they were talking about me. :eek:

I'm still stuck in the basement of the watergate building trying to figure how to get out without getting caught. You know they guard things closer than they used to.

Systems

Ordering online: I never use my real name or phone #. I use an expendable yahoo email account to receive order and shipping confirmations. They don't verify my name even when I use a credit card.

I was curious how you get away with not using your real name when ordering something, especially when it comes time to receive the package? And when I use a credit card online, boy if everything doesn't match right down to the nuts theres now way the transaction will go through.....

wallstreet

They really don't want your identity, they just want your CC number. And if somehow they obtain your CC#, then based on the information your post, all safeguards are out the window.

candyliquor35m

Sartori wrote:

Ordering online: I never use my real name or phone #. I use an expendable yahoo email account to receive order and shipping confirmations. They don't verify my name even when I use a credit card.

I was curious how you get away with not using your real name when ordering something, especially when it comes time to receive the package? And when I use a credit card online, boy if everything doesn't match right down to the nuts theres now way the transaction will go through.....

I've never had a problem but I make sure I use a name that has the same initials as mine. For instance my real name is John Doe so I make sure I use a name like Jim Dolphin so the initials match. Receiving the package at my house is never a problem although I did tell the UPS guy and maybe the mailman too that I use a nickname when I order stuff online to prevent identity theft. I didn't want him to think I was trying to hide something from him like anonymously having drugs sent to my house.

cfrizz

If you consientiously check your statement or better yet, go online & check it, you should probably be fine.

A good many companies will now also call you if someone manages to get a hold of your card and starts making payments to where ever. They will call to make sure you authorized it!

Dennis Gardner

Note to self..................don't be tempted to buy anything from candyliquor35m in the flea market since that person doesn't really exist in this world............

bobman1235

candyliquor35m wrote:

I've never had a problem but I make sure I use a name that has the same initials as mine. For instance my real name is John Doe so I make sure I use a name like Jim Dolphin so the initials match. Receiving the package at my house is never a problem although I did tell the UPS guy and maybe the mailman too that I use a nickname when I order stuff online to prevent identity theft. I didn't want him to think I was trying to hide something from him like anonymously having drugs sent to my house.

Wow, I really thought you were joking with us when you started this thread. Apparently you really are that insane.

I would imagine if you keep this up, someone's going to bust you for defrauding them. I am definitely not a lawyer, but a whole host of things that you're doing have to be TECHNICALLY illegal. At the very least you're breaking some sort of federal mail fraud laws.

cfrizz

I have enough sources to actually tell you what laws he is breaking, but I realized with the mercury thread that he is crazy, so I just put him on my ignore list instead!

Makes life much easier.

candyliquor35m

bobman1235 wrote:

Wow, I really thought you were joking with us when you started this thread. Apparently you really are that insane.

I would imagine if you keep this up, someone's going to bust you for defrauding them. I am definitely not a lawyer, but a whole host of things that you're doing have to be TECHNICALLY illegal. At the very least you're breaking some sort of federal mail fraud laws.

So technically it's illegal or fraud but in reality it's not because I'm paying my credit card bill at the end of every month or prepaying legal online purchases with a money order. Who am I defrauding? My attempts to defraud myself haven't worked. I keep catching myself.

DollarDave

Folks, I have met "candyliquor35m" and he is not crazy. A little reserved and maybe somewhat opinionated (but aren't we all), but definitely not crazy. I even know his real name because I bought a pair of pristine CRS+'s from him and did a road trip with him to help a fellow polkie pick up some Carvers for another polkie.

Please, relax a little and ease up on him.

candyliquor35m

DaveMuell wrote:

Folks, I have met "candyliquor35m" and he is not crazy. A little reserved and maybe somewhat opinionated (but aren't we all), but definitely not crazy. I even know his real name because I bought a pair of pristine CRS+'s from him and did a road trip with him to help a fellow polkie pick up some Carvers for another polkie.

Please, relax a little and ease up on him.

Thanks Dave, I appreciate that tremendously. I don't enjoy the pummeling but I don't take it personal or let it get to me because I try to respect everyone's opinion but some of these topics I believe in deeply. I believe we're losing our right to privacy and what better way to preserve it than to personally protect my own identity and privacy from fraudulent purveyors. Edit: and even if you had pummeled me, you'd still be invited over to listen to sda's. Bring the wife so she'll let you get your own 2 channel rig if you haven't already. I know your daughter has one with the crs+'s.

Cathy don't ignore me yet. I feel the need for some bail money coming on

dorokusai

A girl scout stole my identity when I bought some cookies but that was after she ran out of the house screaming and naked.....luckily she was 18.

bobman1235

candyliquor35m wrote:

So technically it's illegal or fraud but in reality it's not because I'm paying my credit card bill at the end of every month or prepaying legal online purchases with a money order. Who am I defrauding? My attempts to defraud myself haven't worked. I keep catching myself.

I'm pretty sure you're defrauding the post office by having things shipped under a false name, but I don't really KNOW, I just think it SOUNDS like it's probably breaking the law. I'll tell ya right now, if you buy enough things under different names on the internet, you're gonna get on the FBI's watch list just because it's so damned suspicious, and that will pretty much have the opposite of your desired effect now won't it?

That's not really the point though. I understand your desire for a right to privacy, I just think you're confusing privacy with just functioning normally in society.

Know what, I could go on and on about this, but I don't really care what you do, I just think it's sociopathic and delusional behavior, despite Dave Muell's glowing praise for your personality. Hell, I assume "Dave Muell" is that gentleman's real name, posted right here, ona PUBLIC FORUM! I wonder when the identity theft fairies are going to come and steal the very essence of his being for such an egregious slip.

DollarDave

Actually it is Dave Muellenberg, most people pronounce it incorrectly. It should probably be spelled Mullenburg, but who am I to say? At any rate, I was born in Redfield South Dakota and moved to Sioux Falls. I lived there a long time and moved to Texas. Two stops here in Texas so far and am moving to Georgetown in 4 weeks. No criminal record. But, I haven't really told you anything that you couldn't probably have found out with a couple simple WEB searches.

BTW, I don't mind PayPal at all. Until they have a security breach I am okay with their fees.

Dave

candyliquor35m

bobman1235 wrote:

I'm pretty sure you're defrauding the post office by having things shipped under a false name, but I don't really KNOW, I just think it SOUNDS like it's probably breaking the law. I'll tell ya right now, if you buy enough things under different names on the internet, you're gonna get on the FBI's watch list just because it's so damned suspicious, and that will pretty much have the opposite of your desired effect now won't it?

That's not really the point though. I understand your desire for a right to privacy, I just think you're confusing privacy with just functioning normally in society.

Know what, I could go on and on about this, but I don't really care what you do, I just think it's sociopathic and delusional behavior, despite Dave Muell's glowing praise for your personality. Hell, I assume "Dave Muell" is that gentleman's real name, posted right here, ona PUBLIC FORUM! I wonder when the identity theft fairies are going to come and steal the very essence of his being for such an egregious slip.

I appreciate your concern. I really do but your concerns also give me a sinking feeling about what our society has become. In a little over 200 years, we've gone from being willing to stand up and fight against import taxes and duties to being afraid to use a fictitious name to order a cd player off of ebay. Sometimes I drive down the middle of the road (one way streets only ) because I effing feel like it. Does that make me a criminal? I know a friend of mine didn't appreciate it when I did it with her in the car but it was a one way divided street and no one else was around. I especially do it if it's raining hard and it will keep me from hydroplaning because the rain gathers on both sides of the street where the curbs are.

I don't know how many states still let motorcyclists drive without helmets but texas is one of them. I wouldn't do it but I can see why someone would want to just to feel free from all of the rules and regulations we have now. I've never wanted to be normal with that white picket fence and shiny new chevy in the driveway. All that said, I live a pretty boring life but I still have a little kick left in me.

postscript: I would hope that the powers that be have more important things to do than monitor someone ordering stereo equipment off the internet. And yes I keep my cookies turned off all the time unless the website requires them.

TroyD

Actually the overriding issue in the American revolution wasn't taxation. It was taxation without REPRESENTATION. Big difference, actually.

I read a book that laid out a good case that had the colonies (us) been granted one seat in parliment, the revolution probably would have never gained traction. I'm sure at some point it would have but later down the road. The one seat wouldn't have accomplished anything, mind you, but that wasn't the point. Taxes were actually higher in England according to my reading...so it wasn't the taxes per se, it was the lack of representation.

As a side note, I've known many people who were very nice who were, all the same, crazier than a shithouse rat

Just thought I'd share.

BDT