Toronto Mike

Publishing Your SSN May Result in Identity Theft

money

I was just reading about LifeLock CEO Todd Davis.  In the USA, LifeLock ads prominently display his Social Security Number.  Fellow Canadians can think of a Social Security Number like their Social Insurance Number.

Here's one such ad:

todd-davis

If you think putting your SSN in an ad is a bad idea, you're right.

He’s been a victim   of identity theft at least 13 times, according to the Phoenix   New Times.
That’s 12 more times than has previously been known.
In June 2007, Threat Level reported that Davis had been the victim of   identity theft after someone used   his identity to obtain a $500 loan from a check-cashing company.   Davis discovered the crime only after the company called his wife’s   cellphone to recover the unpaid debt.
About four months after that story published, Davis’ identity was   stolen again by someone in Albany, Georgia, who opened an   AT&T/Cingular wireless account   using his Social Security number (.pdf), according to a police   report obtained by the New Times. The perpetrator racked up   $2,390 in charges on the account, which remained unpaid. Davis, whose   real name according to police reports is Richard Todd Davis, only   learned a year later that his identity had been stolen again after   AT&T handed off the debt to a collection agency and a note appeared   on his credit report.
Then last year, Davis discovered seven more fraudulent accounts on   his credit report that were opened with his personal information and   have outstanding debt, according to the police report.
Someone opened a Verizon account in New York, leaving an unpaid bill   of at least $186. An account at Centerpoint Energy, a Texas utility, was   delinquent $122. Credit One Bank was owed $573, and Swiss Colony, a   gift-basket company, was seeking $312.
In addition to these amounts, Davis’s credit report showed five   collection agencies were seeking other sums from accounts opened in his   name: Bay Area Credit was pursuing $265; Associated Credit Services was   seeking two debts in the amount of $207 and $213; Enhanced Recovery   Corporation was chasing $250 and $381.

I take it this LifeLock service doesn't actually work.

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