<p>H was a victim of fraud just a couple weeks ago–all it took was SS#, name and address-- and 2 store credit cards were issued–even using a DL from another state. Another attempt at opening a bill-me-later account was refused. Fortunately, nothing was charged on the cards and we were able to cancel them and put a fraud alert on H’s credit record–so nothing can be opened without his approval (I hope.) Scary few hours while we traced this, talked to stores, canceled cards and got credit report and found that it was still good.
A friend of mine had her debit card # PIN stolen. Fortunately her account was locked down due to suspicious activity and very little was stolen. Her bank told her that people who work at service centers–in this case it was through her cable company-- in India had sold information to scammers. (When I had to report a lost credit card, and the CSR had an Indian accent–it creeped me out–I didn’t trust him. Even though I called HIM! I have gotten multiple calls from Indian scammers in the last year.) Technology is great. But I hate the fact that so many people figure out ways to use it for evil purposes. Makes you paranoid. And if you already have personal issues with “trust”–like being betrayed in a relationship–you’re going to be even MORE paranoid.</p>
<p>We trust other people to obey traffic signs</p>
<p>^^^At least if they don’t obey traffic signs, they put themselves at risk too. Scammers – not so much.</p>
<p>For the people who trust cash more - I don’t. I’m always suspicious that a cash only business or one that gives incentives to pay in cash (like gas stations do) is an indication that someone is stealing money or at the least, not paying all their taxes. </p>
<p>Two cases in point, a local restaurant that was cash only and was not reporting millions of dollars in income. A house was raided and piles of cash were found along with another house where they kept a dozen or so illegal immigrants who worked for them. I don’t need to wonder if those workers were paid a decent wage, treated well, not pressured for sex, or anything else.</p>
<p>Another case where the Smithsonian was cheated of millions of dollars by thieving parking garage attendants who weren’t officially counting the cash payments. They were caught when several people complained about not getting a receipt, which the attendants couldn’t give when the counting machines were turned off. One attendant even bullied others to steal in the same fashion so her own lack of cash in the drawer at the day’s end would be less likely to be noticed.</p>
<p>I’ve heard good things about “ghostery”, which blocks whoever is tracking you and lets you see who they are. My computer is old that I can’t get an OS that uses it, but I will someday.</p>
<p>I also like adblocker. Thank God that Clemson ad is finally gone from the sidebar, I was dearly sick of looking at it!</p>
<p>I had never heard of Ghostery until now. Greenwitch, what can you tell us about it?? I got onto their website but of course they say they’re wonderful. What’s reality?</p>
<p>You can download an extension for your browser. It shows you, for example, what’s asking for stuff on any page. For this page, it shows things like Facebook Connect, Chartbeat, OpenX (ads), Quantcast (ads again) and Google Analytics. You can block various things.</p>
<p>veryhappy - I don’t have it myself, but my friend who told me about it loves it, says it’s not slowing down her computer at all, and she’s blocked 12 trackers so far.</p>
<p>OP, I can think of lots of examples, but I hear your larger point. I try to be vigilant about things I can control (or have the illusion of control) like making sure my computer security is up-to-date. But I’m no computer expert – like you said, how do I know for sure? I don’t. </p>
<p>I guess I’ve become fatalistic about it. Modern life requires a large and growing amount of trust in entities which all too often prove themselves unworthy of it. There’s not much I can do about it, unless I happen across information like the sugar in the sugarless cookies tidbit. In that case, I can switch brands, but how do I know the next brand isn’t doing the same thing? For that matter, how do I know it’s not an industry-wide practice? I don’t. And for every case of cost-cutting fraud or revenue-boosting invasion of privacy which becomes known to consumers, I’m sure there are thousands that don’t. We just do the best we can with the limited knowledge we have, and cross our fingers. We have no other choice, unless we go off the grid.</p>
<p>I use ghostery and am very happy with it. It blocks all kinds of beacons and trackers. I use adblocker and probably other extensions as well. </p>
<p>I travel frequently and use my phone and iPad constantly. I have one app (tripit pro) that reads my emails for information about upcoming travel. It then creates the start of itineraries that my assistant can work with. It also tells me about flight changes. I often get my boarding passes on my phone. I have an app that gives me statistics on flights (e.g., how often is the 7:35 flight from Boston to Houston late?) and another one that shows me where the plane is. I can find the restaurants near my hotel and get ratings on restaurants and hotels. I can find which seats are the good seats on a particular flight so that I can chose my seat assignment. I can find the current and forecast weather wherever I am going to be. Technology has improved travel for me. Nothing creepy here, from my standpoint.</p>
<p>But, there is a cost as the OP notes. What Google is selling is information about you. They create fabulous free software so that they can sell you to others (targeted ads) or information about you to others. Some banks and Amex are better than others with respect to fraudulent charges and unusual activity, though I monitor the credit agencies (and applications) monthly. We’ve had two fraudulent charges on two different cards in the last three months.</p>
<p>I’d switch credit card companies. My CC immediately takes my side and disputes any suspicious charges or activities or calls me. They are often faster at responding than the vendor. I have a long record of charges and on-time payments with all my CCs. How tough for your D that she’s already had her SSN stolen three times!</p>
<p>Agree re credit cards. Amex and Chase have been proactive on fraud control. I get calls saying Mr. Shawbridge, “we have three charges from Ontario. Are they correct?” But your D should sign up for monthly credit monitoring and inform each of the three credit agencies not to provide credit information to anyone without your D’s permission.</p>
<p>As soon as I call my CC companies and say there’s any problem they’ll dispute on my behalf no questions asked. Once I was overcharged $20 for a flat tire from a rental company which would not send any corroboration. CC company gave me back my $20. Once it was a hotel who claimed we made reservations in LA but failed to show up. Disputed that because we were actually staying at different LA hotel at that very time and had NO other reservations. Got back that’s net, cancelled that CC and got a new one.</p>
<p>Son applied to Columbia a number of years ago–never even attended–and was notified his personal information was stolen. It happens.</p>
<p>I pay one of the credit reporting bureaus $12.95 per month for credit protection. It refuses to allow ANY credit in my name without them contacting me first and verifying that I applied for it. They ask me certain security questions ( who holds the mortgage on the house and what is the monthly payment etc)…It gives peace of mind, especially having been the victim years ago of ID theft and the hassles of correcting it.</p>
<p>I had a bank cash a check I had written, but had forgotten to sign. I was disappointed in my bank. What if I hadn’t written it? It wasn’t even forged, because no one signed it!
They cashed it without seeing or caring, that it wasn’t signed.</p>
<p>We read in this forum often about people that apply to schools ED but change their mind, and seek excuses by hook or by crook to get out of it. The school trusted the individual.</p>
<p>Same for traffic tickets. Some here don’t dispute a ticket, yet do every bit of finagling sometimes with a lawyer to escape guilt/or punishment. Society trusts individuals that guilty people will be punished.</p>
<p>Sometimes the problem is a careless clerical error, sometimes it’s a lack of ethics on an individual.</p>
<p>Here’s an amazing and sobering story - [url=<a href=“http://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/03/the-world-has-no-room-for-cowards/]link[/url”>The World Has No Room For Cowards – Krebs on Security]link[/url</a>] - about a security expert whose site was attacked and, as part of the attack, a fake 911 call was made with his number spoofed so his house was surrounded by a SWAT team and he was handcuffed and led away. He could have been killed. (BTW, link is from Jon Gruber’s site. I don’t normally read the linked to site.)</p>