Identity Theft and Data Compromises Across America (052405)
This may become an ongoing saga (I hope not) of ID theft stories and datakeeeping failures.
A few choice entries for today (some links require free registration):
- (Courtesy of Wizbang)–How to steal a house without the owner knowing it.
- Two banks lose control of info relating to over 100,000 accounts–and it was an inside job.
- Speaking of inside jobs, how about the tax preparers who used their clients’ identities to buy homes?
- Finally, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Theft has the potential to disrupt the used-car market, and leads to the Money Tip of the Day:
It just takes one look at the 17 numbers and letters that make up your car’s Vehicle Identification number, or VIN. It’s kind of like the Social Security number for the car.
“You just copy that VIN number down and then you go create a VIN. You make your own VIN plate,” says Woods.
Auto theft cops call it cloning. Add a faked title and cloned VIN to a stolen vehicle and you’ve got a sale that might look good, but it isn’t.
Sergeant Keith Kucifer has an eagle eye for the bad VIN’s. One truck caught his eye enough to look for other evidence.
The victims are hit on both sides — the stolen number and the unsuspecting buyer of the cloned vehicle.
“Just because I as the victim, may have purchased it “legitimately” and paid $15,000 for it doesn’t give me the right to keep stolen property,” says Kucifer.
Police will seize the property and the money is already gone.
I made a quick call to the local police here, and learned that there is nothing illegal in covering your VIN number with tape, or paper or whatever, as long as you can make it accessible when necessary, like when you’re pulled over for a traffic violation (not that any of readers of THIS blog would ever have to worry about that). I suggest you cover up your VIN; I just did. And, since your VIN is listed on your car’s inside driver door, you should ALWAYS lock your car when it’s not in your closed garage.
