Ian Katz, Take a Deep Breath
Sun-Sentinel reporter Ian Katz advises everyone worried about ID theft to "Take a deep breath". Here's hoping Ian takes his own advice after learning it took less than sixty seconds to locate a home address, social security number, and a lot of personal history bearing his name.
Katz' story opens with the news that ID theft is down. Then, maybe not. Then, saying it's difficult to gauge the reliability of any of these reports, Katz notes that "in fairness, one can also make the argument that privacy advocates have no interest in understating ID theft".
What possible gain is there for privacy advocates to falsely report the severity or even increase of the situation?
If Katz is referring to commercial groups who charge a fee to locate sensitive information and another one to remove it, we agree completely. These are almost always the same folks you'll find sitting in the local courthouse recording all your information, brokering it, then charging you to remove it.
But groups like www.FindMyID.com that search and alert free of charge gain only the satisfaction of knowing they've done the Right Thing. We do it because we make the time, because we can, and because someone needs to.
I don't want to dog Ian Katz. God bless him for having the courage to investigate and then report, a concept that creates hostility when suggested to North Carolina newspapers. But it's disappointing to read a suggestion that ID theft isn't as serious as it once was, especially from someone in Mr. Katz' position, when our requests for help increase every day. Ask anyone whose home, ID, or account has been swindled and they'll tell you that statistics don't matter. Unless you're a relatively wealthy person, ID theft is personally devastating and a tough recovery.
Take a deep breath, Ian. Get in touch ( findmyid@mindspring.com ) and I'll explain how we found this info, whether yours or a namesake, and if needed will provide instruction on having it removed from public view.
www.FindMyID.com
Katz' story opens with the news that ID theft is down. Then, maybe not. Then, saying it's difficult to gauge the reliability of any of these reports, Katz notes that "in fairness, one can also make the argument that privacy advocates have no interest in understating ID theft".
What possible gain is there for privacy advocates to falsely report the severity or even increase of the situation?
If Katz is referring to commercial groups who charge a fee to locate sensitive information and another one to remove it, we agree completely. These are almost always the same folks you'll find sitting in the local courthouse recording all your information, brokering it, then charging you to remove it.
But groups like www.FindMyID.com that search and alert free of charge gain only the satisfaction of knowing they've done the Right Thing. We do it because we make the time, because we can, and because someone needs to.
I don't want to dog Ian Katz. God bless him for having the courage to investigate and then report, a concept that creates hostility when suggested to North Carolina newspapers. But it's disappointing to read a suggestion that ID theft isn't as serious as it once was, especially from someone in Mr. Katz' position, when our requests for help increase every day. Ask anyone whose home, ID, or account has been swindled and they'll tell you that statistics don't matter. Unless you're a relatively wealthy person, ID theft is personally devastating and a tough recovery.
Take a deep breath, Ian. Get in touch ( findmyid@mindspring.com ) and I'll explain how we found this info, whether yours or a namesake, and if needed will provide instruction on having it removed from public view.
www.FindMyID.com
posted by Happy at 11:56 PM
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