Identity Theft

mustangdude · Member

Identity Theft

madaboutled · Guru

Tis why I never give my true date of birth, full name or other identifying details on forums such as this.

RustyD · Guru

I was handed an abandoned pup one night leaving the corner pub. Took me about 20 minutes on my iPad to track down the scatter-brain who had it abandoned. Couldn't believe how easy it was. Had the person's name and landline number from a town about 70kms away. And the person (about 70kms in a different direction) who dumped the dog at the pub on behalf of the scatter-brain.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Did you happen to PM the person and let them know your thoughts Jim?

goldcoaster · Senior Member

mustangdude wrote:
I was shocked to go onto a members profile on this forum and see so much information about them, in the wrong hands it would be so easy to steal identities.
The police were saying the one thing these thieves need more than anything is a date of birth to match a name.
I just went on someones profile, got the DOB, then put their name into the white pages. There's the address & phone number.
That's all you need.
So do what I do on forums, fill in all your profile details but put a few numbers wrong when it comes to your Date of Birth.
These parasites prey on older trusting people, no worrys at all.
Jim.

Good Advice Jim ,hope people take it on board.

Cheers

mick

goldcoaster · Senior Member

Oh and welcome to the forum.
mick

PeterD · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Did you happen to PM the person and let them know your thoughts Jim?

How many are you going to look through and PM them that information. I am finding a very high percentage of the newer members are revealing all to the world.

PeterD · Guru

madaboutled wrote:
Tis why I never give my true date of birth, full name or other identifying details on forums such as this.

Dito, given name, rough location, details of rig and a bit of general info is all that needed. I have been a little more specific in location than is needed but that is only because we live in a gated community.

hako · Guru

So what are we afraid of with identity theft - what can you do with name, date of birth and address?
Pretty easy to get a date of birth, just go to one of the many ancestry sites and put the name you want in and it should come up with the persons parent(s) who have died, it will list children of the dead parent(s) and dates they were born....so then you have D.O.B.
I've looked up the names of uncles/aunts which then connects to my parents and my D.O.B. - this was without having to join/pay. Lots of people put family trees on the web trying to track down other links with similar info.

Bottom line is who wants to be looking over their shoulder all the time and just what are we afraid of.

Good Luck.

RustyD · Guru

hako wrote:
So what are we afraid of with identity theft - what can you do with name, date of birth and address?
Pretty easy to get a date of birth, just go to one of the many ancestry sites and put the name you want in and it should come up with the persons parent(s) who have died, it will list children of the dead parent(s) and dates they were born....so then you have D.O.B.
I've looked up the names of uncles/aunts which then connects to my parents and my D.O.B. - this was without having to join/pay. Lots of people put family trees on the web trying to track down other links with similar info.

Bottom line is who wants to be looking over their shoulder all the time and just what are we afraid of.

Good Luck.

If someone really wants to build a dossier on you so they can steal your identity, there are plenty of ways.

Many years ago, a person was publishing controversial "letters to the editor" in the local paper using my name. I was copping a bit of flack. Spoke to the paper and they said they had to confirm the identity of the person writing the letters and had confirmed his name. I decided to do the same at the Electoral Office. After I proved my name and my concerns, I wasn't told directly but it appeared that my namesake was under witness protection so that anyone looking for him came up with me. Very scary.

-- Edited by RustyD on Monday 31st of July 2017 03:08:14 PM

mustangdude · Member

Theres too many people on this forum giving their details to PM about this so no I haven't done anything.

I think in this tech world it's important to keep up to a degree but not be worried and looking over your shoulder.

This is an easy fix for everyone to do at no cost. (change your birth date)

www.idefendfamily.com/how_id_theft_affects_you.aspx

PeterD · Guru

mustangdude wrote:
Theres too many people on this forum giving their details to PM about this so no I haven't done anything.

Please explain yourself. The PM systems on these forums are setup so as not to reveal personal details. You do not need any details in your profile for someone to PM you. You do not include any personal details in PMs when you send one to others. You s

However I do recommend that you set up your preferences so that the forum sends you a notification when you receive a PM. This does not send any details to the sender so you are safe in doing that.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

mustangdude wrote:
Theres too many people on this forum giving their details to PM about this so no I haven't done anything.

I think in this tech world it's important to keep up to a degree but not be worried and looking over your shoulder.

This is an easy fix for everyone to do at no cost. (change your birth date)

www.idefendfamily.com/how_id_theft_affects_you.aspx

Quote: "A members profile"

Jim, You would only be sending one PM to that person and as mentioned by someone else, your details are not being sent to that person by PM. If I was concerned enough to post about the subject I would let that person know by PM my concerns. I'm sure that person would change their details a little. I agree that others probably have details in their profiles but you seem concerned about that person.

You made me go into my profile and see what I said many moons back but I have given no dates or exact locations etc. I think I'm reasonably safe in that department.

Don't take me the wrong way Jim, just saying my thoughts out loud.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

diggerop · Senior Member

If someone steals my identity, do they have to pay the rates and electric and all other bills?

mustangdude · Member

What i meant was it would take a very long time for me to PM everyone on this forum (there are probably hundreds) who have too much information in their profile.

I thought it was easier to post the problem.

Jim.

Jewel · Senior Member

Thanks for taking the time to post this info Jim.

Cheers,

Jewel

PeterD · Guru

mustangdude wrote:
I was shocked to go onto a members profile on this forum and see so much information about them, in the wrong hands it would be so easy to steal identities.

I have been in contact with Cindy. She is approaching the forums hosts to see if the situation can be rectified.