Anywhere you shop today you get interrogated.
It goes something like this: Did you find everything you need? How are going to pay for that? Phone number? Address? Social Security number?
Okay, most don't ask that much but they come close. You leave feeling informationally violated. Somehow, that doesn't make one very comfortable. It definitely doesn't make Frank Abagnale Jr. feel safe.
Abagnale, the memorable marauding man of multiple means recently lionized by Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me if You Can," noted in a recent speech that "what I did in my youth is hundreds of times easier today. Technology breeds crime."
Abagnale's observation is rather stunning considering the ease with which he forged a mere $2.5 million in checks. A man who easily passed himself off as a pilot, professor, doctor and lawyer is worried about information theft. Specifically, Abagnale is worried about identity theft.
Identity theft is when somebody steals personal information about you such as a Social Security number or credit card number. That information is then used to open bank accounts, obtain loans, get credit or perform other nefarious schemes.
Today's criminals utilize various larcenous methods. A lost wallet helps but that's child's play now. Bank statements and credit card bills get swiped from mailboxes.
Hackers can easily get details off the Internet, information's new frontier. A favorite for cons are pre-approved credit card applications. The forms are filled out as you by someone who really isn't you.
This creates havoc from the victims, who suddenly find they're deep in debt, have terrible credit or that their names are on arrest warrants. The criminal leaves the victim to clean up. Merge that with the fact that identity theft is the fastest rising crime in the United States.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates 900,000 people will be victimized by identity theft this year.
But, wait, it gets worse. The college student is the dream victim for identity thieves.
Chubb Insurance Companies commissioned a study on student identity theft. They found that 49 percent of students get credit card solicitations each week. Most throw these out unopened and intact. Forty-eight percent of student grades were posted by Social Security number. Several experts warn that college students need to be much more careful about financial matters as they could be targeted.
Thankfully, lawmakers are taking steps to protect citizens. Indiana recently passed Public Laws 22 and 36, effective last week. P.L. 22 aids identity theft victims in restoring credit and makes prosecution of the criminals easier.
P.L. 36 cracks down on Internet victims. The Student Senate passed its own bill calling on Ball State to remove Social Security numbers (your student ID number) from all documents.
Naturally, the best defense against this crime is personal vigilance. Information on how to do that is readily available but it's mostly common sense. Watch your finances.
The fact that Frank Abagnale now carries a $25,000 ID theft insurance policy should be warning enough.
Abagnale knows that anyone could do it. Who knows, it might even be me.
Write to Jeff at mannedarena@yahoo.com
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