Being an IT professional I know all too well the widespread and growing problem of identity theft. Name, social security number, and birth date is all someone with a little savvy needs to steal your identity and cause severe ramifications that are all up to you to repair. Due to this I guard my personal information with my life. I never give out my social security number unless absolutely necessary and in private.

I was dumbfounded yesterday while I was at my doctor’s office getting referrals to a specialist and an imagining center. As I listened to the nurse rattle off my information in a public area with others around and over a regular telephone line I was shocked to hear my social security number, date of birth, and name being read off loud and clear. After the phone call I questioned the nurse as to why they need that information over the phone Name ok, maybe even date of birth, but not my social security number. I asked if they always did that and she replied yes. I told her that I did not appreciate that and in this day of identity theft it’s not the smartest thing to do in the first place. She replied “Well if someone wants your information they’re going to get it anyway.” I told her that I agreed but we don’t have to make it easy for them. As I sat there she made another call for another referral, and guess what…loud and clear, same thing.

The social security number is being greatly misused. It’s used to identify us in a way that was not intended. Why can’t doctors generate unique id numbers for their patients instead of using information that could potentially ruin our lives? Why does the DMV want to put it right there on your drivers license? My wife applied for a job, and before she even had an interview they asked for her number over the phone. When she refused, they told her not to come in.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of identity theft, you already know the outcome. It’s painful and can easily ruin your life. Please, people, protect your information. Don’t allow people to use your information for non-essential purposes; don’t allow this information to be broadcasted over phone lines and in offices. This is your information, if you feel someone is misusing it, stop them, if you don’t it could easily mean your credit destroyed, your home taken and quite possibly your life.

Dan Olson
Harrison
unkadan@comcast.net

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This reckless handling of personal information is one small example of the identity theft problem in this world. The DMV is a major contributor to this crime also. The Veteran Affairs person who took the names and social security numbers of thousands of US veterans home on a laptop and then had the laptop stolen is an extreme example. Who would go to the trouble and time to copy someone else’s personal information onto a laptop to take home?

InformationWeek magazine tells that a name and a social security number bring $3 a piece on the underground market. The magazine also listed the names of two legitimate companies that buy this information. Some of the illegal companies compile list of children from this stolen information which they in turn sell to pedophiles who then have the name, age and social security number and maybe even a telephone number of your children.

How much money was the VA person expecting or has made with this info? Most of this personal information is going to East Europe where people distill the names, contact information and social security numbers into social or geographic groups and then sell the lists of names back to legitimate or illegitimate companies to market or steal the victim’s identity. What is going to be this VA employee's punishment? Less than a multiple DUI charge I'm sure.

Scott Nash
snash_6@hotmail.com

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Dan Olson touched on a lot of sensitive points in his recent commentary on identity theft, but he's wrong that the Tennessess DMV requires your social security number on your license. I know that they gave an alternate choice as mine has not been on my driver's license since at least 1999.

Some folks are responding to requests for privacy. My employer, UTC, no longer puts the SSN on employee ID cards.

Blood Assurance asked for my SSN and I refused, they assigned me a random number.

Personally, I think the only people who should be able to have access to your Social Security number are: the federal government (for the IRS and Social Security), your employer and your tax preparer. Anyone else should be blocked at your discretion.

Ken Dryden
ken-dryden@utc.edu