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From / Date: |
Question / Answer: |
| 7606. |
Brad
woodstock, IL
Age: 25
May 19, 2010
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Life Lock Identity Theft
Apparently, when you publish your Social Security number prominently on your website and billboards, people take it as an invitation to steal your identity.
LifeLock CEO Todd Davis, whose number is displayed in the company’s ubiquitous advertisements, has by now learned that lesson. 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.
A spokeswoman for the Albany police, who investigated the AT&T/Cingular account but never made any arrest, told the New Times that Davis’ publication of his Social Security number created more victims than just himself.
“It’s unfortunate he chose to conduct business in that way,” spokeswoman Phyllis Banks said. “It’s not fair to [AT&T] because they’re losing a pretty substantial amount of money.”
LifeLock refused to discuss the issue with the New Times. The company did not respond to a request for comment from Threat Level.
The company was fined $12 million in March by the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive advertising.
Lifelock promised in ads that its $10 monthly service would protect consumers from identity theft. The company also offered a $1 million guarantee to compensate customers for losses incurred if they became a victim after signing up for the service. The FTC called the claims bogus and accused LifeLock of operating a scam.
“In truth, the protection they provided left such a large hole … that you could drive that truck through it,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, referring to a LifeLock TV ad showing a truck painted with Davis’s Social Security number driving around city streets.
Davis’ history as an identity-theft victim would seem to call into question the company’s ability to protect consumers from a similar fate.
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| 7605. |
Fred
Los Angeles, CA
Age: 35
May 19, 2010
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DL Address
In researching an address for my driver’s license renewal, I list a separate ghost address for my mailing address (until I get an out of State license from a far away non Real ID State) I looked for the most crime invested area of Los Angeles and rented the most dive, flea bag motel nearest the area. Google Earth helped with the process. I got my receipt for proof (if ever asked). If the locals don’t know who you are, they get in your face and try to interrogate you. If any gumshoe, PI, etc wants to check the area out they will be earning their money and quite a surprise they will have. I have quite a few LEO friends and mentioned the area in question and they told me they wouldn’t be caught in this area unless they had SWAT or some serious backup. Hope this helps anyone out in their quest for a great DL address.
...
Note to readers: If you follow Fred's advice, I suggest you either go into the area with a bodyguard, or carry a stout cane and a Kubotan. :-)
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| 7604. |
joe
New York, NY
Age: 48
May 18, 2010
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7595
Angelita's question responses (7595) are a great strategy to make it difficult to find the real you.
I lecture to University students on ways to make sure your info you WANT future employers to see ends up on Google's front page. They involve all the items on the response to Angelita's query.
In fact if you just start a blog through wordpress.com and post once per week, within a few months you'll own the top spots in Google's first page when someone searches your name. Unless of course your name is John Smith. But if it was John Smith, you'd be able to hide without trying hard anyway.
But if you are blessed with a very unique name like Boulevare Shagnasty, then creating many many selves online via social networking, blogging, commenting, etc. no one will dig hard enough to find you.
This will take months of dedicated work, you may want to outsource it to make it happen fast if you are desperate.
Do that, and simultaneously stop providing your REAL name/address/etc. to vendors/sites/shops and you'll be on the way to getting it all sewed up.
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| 7603. |
David
Tampa Bay Area, Florida
Age: 42
May 18, 2010
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Internet Browser Fingerprints
From Lifehaker.com:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (they're the good folks on the digital frontier fighting for our digital rights) conducted a study of the uniquely identifiable information your browser regularly sends out in the open and found that "an overwhelming majority of web browsers have unique signatures — creating identifiable "fingerprints" that could be used to track you as you surf the Internet." (click link to view article and for link to test your own browser)
Submitted Link #1: http://lifehacker.com/5541039/forget-cookies-over-...
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| 7602. |
Josh
Hackensack, NJ
Age: 31
May 18, 2010
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Do you trust your copier?
Interesting video on what secrets copiers keep and how those are easily restored.
User beware.
Submitted Link #1: http://wimp.com/copymachines/...
...
A warning to us all!
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| 7601. |
joe
Wilmington NC
Age: 35
May 17, 2010
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7599. Sheryl NJ SC DMV & FEIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN. You may apply for an EIN in various ways, and now you may apply online. This is a free service offered by the Internal Revenue Service.
This number always stays with the company and is never reused.
I have one with a Corp. I own and have opened and closed 2 when both of my parents passed away. One is required to open and close an estate.
You should never need to use this EIN unless you have employees or make a profit or gain through your LLC .
You could open it and since the business did not start up just close it later.
JJ Since it is what can be found out when the license tags are run and what is on the vehicle registration wouldn’t it be better if a vehicle were listed with a EIN vs a SSN since this is a federal company No. and a company as the norm is not located where you live right?
Submitted Link #1: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=...
...
In by far the majority of states, you need not list ANY tax number for an LLC, if it is not used in business.
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| 7600. |
Tiki
King George, VA
Age: 41
May 17, 2010
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Film canisters to conceal cash
I was thinking of ways to conceal money while traveling or inside the home. If you, or have a friend who, rolls their own film; you could have a couple of dummy rolls made and stash a couple bills inside. You would have to be careful opening it to get the cash out if you needed it; as the canisters are reusable.
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| 7599. |
Sheryl
NJ
Age: 44
May 17, 2010
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Registering a Car in SC
I want to register my car in South Carolina under my LLC name. The application asks for the business FEIN. As of now I do not have an FEIN. Will obtaining one to register my car compromise my privacy?
I need to register my car in SC (when I move there) because they have a personal property tax on vehicles. I have been told that neighbors get mighty upset when they see others living there with out of state plates. They think people are trying to avoid the personal property tax by not registering in SC. I am not against paying the tax, I am more than willing to pay it. I am worried that my privacy can be compromised by having to give my SSN to get an FEIN.
...
I am not sure that you need the FEIN when you are NOT in business. But if you do, any information on the application will not show up on your registration. Perhaps some reader in SC can help out here?
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| 7598. |
joe
Willmington NC
Age: 35
May 16, 2010
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State by State DMV Guide
Not an offical guide but a lot of DMV info for state by state DL doc. needed to get a DL.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.dmv.org/license-and-registration.php...
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| 7597. |
Bryan
Vancouver BC
Age: 22
May 16, 2010
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Skip College
I haven't purchased your book Skip College because I am 3.5 years into my education and may as well graduate, but I'd like to share my thoughts on my university education.
A lot of bright young students have no illusions about the education we'll receive at university. Many of us could probably self educate ourselves just as well with the use of a library card, Internet connection, and discussion groups. I and many others have always known what we are buying is an expensive piece of paper. In fact, many graduates refer to their diploma as just that-- a piece of paper.
College is just seen as an expensive and time consuming hoop to jump through for most of us. If I was attending a top university with a peer group of high achievers and access to bright minds then the whole experience would have been more valuable to me, but I'm not nor are most students.
For my major, philosophy, you'd be lucky if your brain hasn't rotted by the end of for years. The education is so dismal that it's actually a disvalue--they should pay ME to sit there and listen to their drivel. Afterall, where else but a university could it still be respectable to be an avowed Maoist? In the philosophy departments we spend year after year learning that we can't actually learn; that certainty and objective knowledge of reality are impossible.
I've made the most of my time here though. I never racked up any debt and I've gone on exchanges to far away countries and cultures subsidized by scholarship. I entirely recommend long term immersion in a foreign culture and language as a genuinely enriching and educational alternative to college after graduating from high school.
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| 7596. |
bob
austin tx
Age: 56
May 16, 2010
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banking
I believe Jack said somewhere that your bank account is essentially unknown, except to the govt., unless you have a debit, credit or atm card attached to it(or a loan)
I understand why a cc or loan would give U away (it's on ur credit report) but the dc and atm card aren't so how could they give you away?
...
From a PI:
"If a person is under surveillance, I'll get the receipts they throw away, or leave behind. Gas stations and fast food joints are good collection places for this.
"If they mean, how will a PI determine where the account is from the ATM/Debit card, a short interview with a clerk who remembers taking the target's card or standing in line with the target with a camera trained on their wallet as they make their purchase (http://www.hunterspec.com/updateable/update_display.cfm?pageID=2603) will narrow down the field.
"If I capture some unknown bank card on video, some quick research on the net is all that is necessary to locate the bank. If the image on the card is all I can get, http://www.tineye.com/ sometimes works.
There are a lot of info brokers that have friends in low places who use the numbers on the cards to determine which account it is linked to at the bank.
"With the account number and bank name, the client's information can be had. Then database research into that person will usually show connections to what is already known about the target under surveillance."
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| 7595. |
Angelita
Dawson Creek, BC
Age: 26
May 16, 2010
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Getting rid of my name on the internet
A friend sent me your book on being invisible but I should have read it years ago. I have an unusual last name and that, coupled with "Dawson Creek," brings up dozens of references to me, not all of them kind. Your book tells about how to move and disappear but I wish to stay in Dawson Creek. Is there anything at all that can be done to get rid of all the stuff on the internet?
...
To get it all off? No, but there are ways to leave false trails. It's not easy, and it's not cheap. I was recently contacted by an overseas reader who says he does that sometime, in his country. Here is what he says it entails, in part:
1. Creating 100s of dummy online accounts in the person's real name (First Last) and country.
2. Make 100s of postings on forums, social networking, blogs, resumes, Wikipedia and internet pages with the person's real name.
3. Post 100s of photos with the person's name and country as the description.
4. Create a personal SEO (Search Engine Optimised) website using dummy information in combination with the person's real name. But will the above really work? Who knows?
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| 7594. |
Andie
San Diego, CA
Age: 45
May 15, 2010
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HTBI/AZ
This is an interesting show that highlights some HTBI type stuff...
Submitted Link #1: http://www.hulu.com/watch/149421/fugitive-chronicl...
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| 7593. |
Michael
Chicago, IL
Age: 18
May 15, 2010
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Where to license a cargo trailer?
After reading SKIP COLLEGE, my parents agreed I could take a gap year first. I then read OFF THE GRID and I plan to buy a small cargo trailer and travel to Alaska. What's the best state in which to license the cargo trailer?
Submitted Link #1: http://blog.invisible-privacy.com/...
...
Michigan. To find out why, check today's blog. (See also, in the same blog, the suggestion about driving the Alaska Highway.)
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| 7592. |
Hamish
Salem, Oregon
Age: 68
May 15, 2010
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Portable Apps. #7569
Leonard, I concur with Hu's post (#7586).
I would go further, though: consider purchasing an IronKey brand personal USB flash drive. It comes with Firefox already installed for you, and numerous privacy-related features.
Submitted Link #1: https://www.ironkey.com/personal-solutions...
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| 7591. |
Jay
San Antonio, Tx
Age: 37
May 15, 2010
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See what Facebook says about you
JJ,
If some of your readers want to keep their Facebook account but see what they publicly publishes about them, they should read the below article and follow the link within.
Enjoy,
Jay
Submitted Link #1: http://lifehacker.com/5526429/see-what-facebook-pu...
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| 7590. |
Lewis
Athens, Georgia
Age: 40
May 14, 2010
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A Wall Street Journal Hot Dog Success Story
Last night I was listening to The Jeff Rense radio show over the Internet, and Jeff and Gerald Celente were talking about starting a business with no employees, and Jeff suggested starting a food cart.
I did some research, and used carts can be found online at places like backpage, craigslist, ebay and webstore and at flea markets. Here is an excerpt from a Wall Street Journal piece:
"For his part, he says $300 a day in grosses is reasonable, and of that, $200 is likely to be profit. If that's the case for nine months of the year, revenue would be about $80,000...It doesn't take much to start. You can get a basic cart for about $2,700 -- though a tricked-out cart with a trailer can go up to $20,000. You'd require about another $1,000 for initial inventory, licensing fees and other expenses. Location should be your highest priority...But the permit and license process, he says, is the most difficult hurdle."
Submitted Link #1: http://www.thehotdogcart.com/hd_wall_st.htm...
...
The downside, of course, is that your name will be entered into various databases. A ghost address would help but may not be allowed.
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| 7587. |
Everett
Panama City Beach, FL
Age: 58
May 14, 2010
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Your request is being processed... College For All? Experts Say Not Necessarily
"... The notion that a four-year degree is essential for real success is being challenged by a growing number of economists, policy analysts and academics. They say more Americans should consider other options such as technical training or two-year schools, which have been embraced in Europe for decades."
Submitted Link #1: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/13/college-f...
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| 7586. |
Hu
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Age: 55
May 14, 2010
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Portable Apps. #7569
Re:Leonard Columbia, SC
Leonard, I use a flashdrive to have the Portable Applications on. There is a simple Portable Menu that you can add functions to such as Firefox or there is one with many. Just download the setup and set the destination to your Flashdrive and it will install. Either way I find it easier to use the flashdrive. Just insert the Flashdrive into the USB port and it will read It. Don't be too concerned about the cd, try a RW and see how that works. Best of luck.
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| 7585. |
Paul
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Age: 32
May 13, 2010
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Great article about Facebook privacy.
Zuck: Yeah so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard
Zuck: Just ask.
Zuck: I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS
[Redacted Friend's Name]: What? How'd you manage that one?
Zuck: People just submitted it.
Zuck: I don't know why.
Zuck: They "trust me"
Zuck: Dumb f ...
Submitted Link #1: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-n
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