Posted by PAW_Fl on 3/29/05 8:37am
Msg #28177
Hiring Companies, please read...
I have noticed that on many, many websites that allow NSA's to sign up or join your organization, that personal information is being requested that includes Social Security Numbers. While I understand the need for this information, I suggest that you consider making the "forms" secure. That is, at a minimum, using a secure "https" server for the collection of this information.
Passing ones SSN in the clear is an invitation for identity theft. Would you enter your SSN or credit card information on a public billboard for everyone to see? Providing information on the internet in unsecured transmissions is similar.
For those NSA's applying to be added to company databases, I urge you to minimize your personal information exposure. If you don't want your address, phone numbers and SSN available to the general public, then I suggest you find alternate means to sign up with the companies.
At a minimum, DO NOT ENTER YOUR SSN ON AN UNSECURE WEBSITE. Get an EIN and use that or enter 888-88-8888 as your SSN and in the comments or notes section (if available) state that your will provide your SSN by other, secure, means.
The preceding is a public service announcement brought to you by someone who has had their identity stolen and is still feeling the trials and tribulation associated with it.
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Reply by ColleenCA on 3/29/05 8:44am
Msg #28180
I couldn't agree more! Also, when faxing back your notary sign up packet, block out your drivers license number if they request a copy of that.
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Reply by Negretes Notary Service on 3/29/05 8:45am
Msg #28182
Thanks for the info Paul. I agree, you should NOT enter SS numbers on unsecure sights. I will keep that in mind when I roll out my new Notary Sign Up page in the nest week or two. We have been working with our IT dept feverishly trying to get it done, I am told that by weeks end they should have it up and running.
I will announce here when that happens. That way anyone that is interested in working for Negrete's Notary Service Inc. can sign up and get on our database. By the way the company that is building my site is a compnay called www.notarysoftware.com.
ANthony J Negrete
Negrete's Notary Service Inc.
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Reply by Lee/AR on 3/29/05 9:25am
Msg #28185
Thanks, Anthony. This really is important. (nm)
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Reply by LuLU on 3/29/05 9:11am
Msg #28183
My identity was stolen recently...
and I have no idea how it happened. I am lucky that a man with an internet company received an order using my information (credit card) and he thought it was suspicious so he called me. When I called the credit card company someone had tried to charge over $1000 to my account on various websites.
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Reply by Melody on 3/29/05 10:34am
Msg #28194
Mine was stolen, too
Some guy used my SS number to get health insurance. Luckily, nothing else was affected.
I found out who did it: an illegal immigrant working under the table at a gambling casino in Northern California.
I have no idea how he got the number.
I've never been to any casino in Northern California. The only casino I have visited in the last 20 years was in another state. That was only for a signing and I didn't spend any money.
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Reply by HDW_TN on 3/29/05 11:06am
Msg #28200
Re: My identity was stolen recently...
A night clerk at a Days Inn in VA also took mine…was there on business. He used it to payoff his own cell phone. What a moron. It was also the first time I had used this c/c and no other charges appeared on the card. I too was called from a store asking if I was trying to purchase an Xbox and tons of games. I told them no and they immediately stopped the purchase attempt. I had all the data I needed for the authorities and gave a full description of the person, place, time of night. I called the Inn and asked for the persons name and they willingly gave it to me. He charged other items on porn sites and I did not have to pay any of the charges for any item. I stopped the card and destroyed it. Don't know the outcome of his fate, but hope he got what he deserved. Thief!
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Reply by Dogmonger, Ca on 3/29/05 10:13am
Msg #28187
Were you able to determine how your info was stolen
Was from dumpster divers or did it occur from internet transactions
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Reply by LuLu on 3/29/05 10:19am
Msg #28188
Re: Were you able to determine how your info was stolen
I shred everything so I think it was probably over the internet. The scary thing is that I don't how the information was gotten or what kind of info. I know they had credit card information and my phone number. It is also possible that somewhere down the line I will find out that accounts were opened in my name or they might wait to use other account info they already obtained. I guess I should contact the credit bureaus and add a fraud alert in my file, I ve just been so busy that I keep putting it off.
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Reply by missy_socal on 3/29/05 10:30am
Msg #28192
Re: Were you able to determine how your info was stolen
Lulu,
I'm sorry that happened to you! It's such a hassle, and very stressful. Last summer, someone ran up $1600 worth of credit card transactions on my account before it was noticed. This happened while we were out of town for three weeks on the east coast...which made it even the more stressful trying to clear it up.
The bank told me to check my receipts from now on, because some smaller merchants still display the ENTIRE credit card number on the receipt that they give you. Something that you lightly toss away can give anyone the information they need to print up a new card with their name on it, and your credit info. Just a tip that I thought I'd pass on!
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Reply by PAW_Fl on 3/29/05 10:54am
Msg #28198
Re: Were you able to determine how your info was stolen
Yes it was determined that fraud was committed by a credit card company employee, who then used the internet with my information to obtain goods and services, among other things. It has been a nightmare for the past seven years.
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Reply by HL in PA on 3/29/05 11:25am
Msg #28204
Re: Were you able to determine how your info was stolen
Everyone, just to add to how important is to be careful with your credit card info. Saturday evening after a closing I met my husband at a new establishment in town. He had already started a tab while he watched the NCAA games. We had a few drinks, dinner and was enjoying each others company without our son for a change! When it came time to get our check and close our tab out the bartender brought another patrons credit card over. I told him this wasn't our card and of course he looked at us like we had 3 heads. He started frantically looking for our card but couldn't find it. It turns out that he gave our card to another patron. He didn't look at the card nor did this patron and as a result that person's bill was paid courtesy of our credit card and then they walked out with it in their wallet. As it turns out the bartender knew the person he gave it too and could call them and they were going to bring it back the next day. That wasn't good enough for me so I talked to the owner who was there and he told us not worry about our bill it was on the house and that he had the bartender make the person bring it back later that night so he could have it in his possession for us. I also called and had the card suspended, the charges that weren't ours taken off. The bartender kept saying "oh, you don't have to suspend your card this guy has been my friend for years and he is trustworthy guy". We told him that that could be true but we didn't know his friend at all and even if he brings the card back he can still write the numbers down and have a field day doing online or home shopping courtesy of us.
So the next time any of you guys are out anywhere don't let the servers hold your card to start a tab. When it comes to your someone getting their hands on your credit information without you knowing it can mean big trouble and a lot of headaches. Had the bartender checked signatures like anyone should he would have caught that he was giving the wrong credit card to his friend.
Just my two cents worth and a recent experience that I had.
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Reply by ERNA_CA on 3/29/05 12:37pm
Msg #28211
Re: Were you able to determine how your info was stolen
I dont signe up with agencies for this reason. They want you to put all your info on one form as well as some asking for a copy of your ss card and dl. We have to go through a fbi background check to become Notaries. They should only requier us to proove we are notaries copy of comition and fill in a w9 should be enough. Its just too scary to send out all this info to sevral signing agencies. I just don do it. Better safe than sorry.
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Reply by L.A.NSA on 3/29/05 1:41pm
Msg #28240
Use Specific CC w/$500 Limit for Internet
Sorry to read that several of you have had such nightmare theft experiences. I have several cards, however, for ordering over the net I only use a $500 limit card, keep it pretty close to the max, hopefully, deterring any misuse.
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Reply by PAW_Fl on 3/29/05 2:38pm
Msg #28275
Re: Use Specific CC w/$500 Limit for Internet
For online purchases, I use a Citibank "virtual" credit card. As long as you have a real Citibank credit account, you can use their free VAN (Virtual Account Number) to generate a one-time use only credit card number. http://www.citibank.com/us/cards/cardserv/advice/van.htm
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Reply by Stephen_VA on 3/29/05 2:15pm
Msg #28257
Just how worthless is a signature??
Go here and check out this guy's story of credit card signatures:
http://www.zug.com/pranks/credit/
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Reply by Lori-CA on 3/29/05 2:46pm
Msg #28281
Stephen, that was hilarious. n/m
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