Comments on: ChoicePoint faces inquiry, will curtail data sales

Identity theft scandal prompts exit from some parts of personal data business; SEC and others launch probes.

[Razzl]

Biggest bad guy puts on a white hat...

These measures are tough, rational, and serious, which is the opposite of how most companies of this type handle security breaches, so for now you have my respect. I don't accept the idea that there should be companies out there gathering and disseminating this kind of private information without permission of the subject, but these measures would seem to take Choicepoint out of that category and make its data available only for "opt-in" transactions. Don't forget, please, to hold "law enforcement" customers to the same scrutiny as your corporate customers. They will be more likely than other customers to misuse data or obtain it under false pretenses...

[Stating]

ChoicePoint Had A Previous Security Breach

The Mercury News reported on Wednesday that ChoicePoint had a security breach back in 1992. They fell for a Nigerian scam. No, I am not making this up.

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/business/special_packages/security/11031011.htm
"Posted on Wed, Mar. 02, 2005
ChoicePoint had another ID theft case in 2002

ATLANTA (AP) - A newly revealed case shows that the vast commercial database of personal information at ChoicePoint Inc. was tapped by identity thieves in 2002 -- contradicting a statement by its CEO that a much more recent breach was the first of its kind.

A Nigerian-born brother and sister were charged in 2002 with a scam in which they posed as legitimate businesses to set up ChoicePoint accounts and gain access to its massive database. They then made 7,000 to 10,000 inquiries on names and Social Security numbers in the database and used some of those identities to commit at least $1 million worth of fraud, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Krause in Los Angeles said Wednesday."

Keith
www.techcando.com

Derek Smith Should Be Fired

This Derek Smith is a real piece of work.

He was on a national news show (I think 60 Minutes) saying that his firm had a right to keep information on all Americans and that annonymity was not a right.

I guess he meant that his firm and others like it have a right to buy any information they can get their hands on, aggregate it into a database and sell it to anyone who has the money to pay for it.

He an his firm even offered to help set up a new commission and rules to govern private information. This reminds me of a criminal who "gets religion" just prior to being sentenced to jail. No thanks Mr Smith, we need rules to protect us from companies like yours.

He has also done a great job for his shareholders, who I am sure are happy with the recent drop in the stock price while Mr Smith has exercised his options at a profit.

Mr. Smith should be relieved from his position at ChoicePoint. He should be barred from this industry and if he is found guilty of wrong doings by the SEC he should be barred from running any public company.

I would not want to be in this guy's shoes. By the time the regulatory agencies, attorneys general and the plaintiffs lawyers get through with him, being an identity theft victim will look like a walk in the park.

Why do they sell info with SSN's

I don't understand why they were ever allowed to include your social security number in these reports. With Identity theft at such a large number (1/12), this should of been removed from the report. Also, who is going to hold them responsible for this?

i wish i had read your story on scams before i bought on line

thought i was buying lime wire pro well a mp3 down load co. was hiding behind lime wire logo so for 19.95 i got limewire basic witch is free and on top of it all they charged me twice. and b of a is no help