ME&MEE

We love this site. Love. So ME & ME wants to give a shout out to identity theft daily, which provides a never ending update on the arrests and convictions of ID theft perps. And, some good guidance on prevention too, so check it out. The Identity Theft Resource Center released survey results from a national poll, with 10% more people showing concern about ID theft. (Okay, it was co-sponsored by the leading shredder manufacturer. But, they have a point…) Because, to make you even more paranoid, there is a recent case where gas station attendees were prosecuted for ID theft. Can’t even fill up in peace anymore.

The state of Tennessee is taking big steps to protect consumers from identity theft. Tomorrow, Gov. Phil Bredesen will be signing the “Credit Security Act of 2007” into law. The new legislation – hailed by the AARP – will allow consumers to freeze their credit (to prevent criminals from buying stuff like cars under their names), as well as ensure that companies and government entities protect SS numbers. In other “Good ME” news, the White House is giving government agencies 120 days to develop security breach policies.

Even celebrities can fall victim to identity theft. Just today, it was announced that R&B artist, Ashanti, has had her identity compromised by an identity theft ring. Xerox hosted an expert roundtable this week to discuss how companies can avoid data breaches. Finally, check out the mug shots of these identity theft criminals. This shady-looking group is responsible for compromising 52 victims’ identities. If convicted, they could get a maximum term of 165 years.

We have a data breach story today that baffles the mind. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center sent out donor solicitation letters with actual patients’ social security numbers on the envelopes. We often think of data breaches occurring only in cyberspace, but big time mistakes do happen in the non-cyberworld. In other healthcare data breach news, if you had a baby in Georgia, your personal data could be compromised.

We lead today’s Bad Me posting with a story straight out of the popular movie “Catch Me If You Can.” It seems that “Check Washing” is back in vogue with the bad guys. This is the technique where criminals wash the ink off a check and re-use it. See this article from LA Times about how this old school technique is making a come back. In other news, TJX took a big hit this earnings season because of its massive data breach. Speaking of breaches, here’s a disturbing study on how corporations are not too worried about data breaches. Scary.

There seems to be an endless news cycle of small-time identity thieves being busted in localized areas around the U.S. It’s even happening in Canada. At Me&Me, we believe that every localized identity theft criminal stopped is a step in the right direction. Finally, a number of local retailers in Idaho are forming a task force to stop identity theft. There’s definitely strength in numbers.

We can’t help but spread the word when states are being progressive with identity theft laws. Just yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate and House passed an identity theft protection bill that allows consumers to “freeze” their credit reports. Also, businesses must alert consumers to breaches. We hope more states follow suit. We are also happy to report that the AARP is helping the elderly combat identity theft. Finally, we had to share this NY Post article – just based on the article title.

Wanda Witherspoon, an Identity Theft Coordinator at Worldwide Assistance, has written a poem that puts the thoughts and feelings of an identity theft victim into words.

Nightmare
Such a simple thing to forget your case,
Rushing about in a hurried pace;
But what you leave behind is often seen
By those who don’t care about anything.

They steal that case and rush about too;
Selling your belongings to who knows who,
They sit in a room in another town
Writing your name till they get it down,
Though they may not look a bit like you
The signature alone will get them through.

And that someone begins to live very well
While poor you begins a descent to hell.
Buying cars and boats
Houses and coats
Hairdo’s and trips
Even casino chips!

Listen to someone who knows
Identity theft is a mighty blow;
All your life you’ll think of that day
Nightmares, you see, are made that way!

Have any Identity Theft stories, feelings or thoughts you want to share? Write a comment!

Today’s Identity Theft news will make you suspect your own mother of stealing your social security number. In Florida, an 88-year-old woman’s caregiver stole her identity and went on a $3,300 shopping spree. And what’s worse, she also got her high on crack cocaine. Wow. TSA, the division of Homeland Security charged with keeping our airway’s safe from bombs and the like, apparently has a security problem of its own. Last TSA “lost” a hard drive that contained social security numbers, bank data, and payroll information for 100,000 employees. And finally an ex-banker from Indianapolis was sentenced to 20 years from stealing almost $200,000 from the bank that employed him by creating a fake loan in a friend’s name, among other shady practices.