Jalopnik: Identity Theft

Canadian Man Blames Lost Chrysler Data Tape For Irrational Identity Theft Fears

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:40:00 EDT

A man from the Canadian city-to-the-south-of-Detroit, Windsor, Ontario, is miffed at Chrysler (or more likely Chrysler Financial Canada) for losing a data tape and potentially making the possibility of identity theft happen sooner rather than later. Seems a tape containing the names, addresses and Social Insurance Numbers of some Canuckian Chrysler lessees was lost in transport by UPS. The carrier informed Chrysler of the loss by March 12th, and in turn, letters to folks with compromised identities were sent by March 27th. This chap from Windsor didn't get his note till April 21st and it's rubbing him the wrong way.

We're kind of on the fence with this one. Sure the possibility of identity theft is annoying and who hasn't had to deal with a compromised credit card these days, but is this really something to get your panties in a bunch over? First, a data tape was lost. Data, tape. Those with the wherewithal to read them these days probably aren't in the business of trafficking in stolen or lost UPS packages. No, they're too busy running server farms, reading about the latest in iPhone news on Gizmodo and filling out TPS reports in their cubicles. Second, ~~blame Canada~~ blame the Canadian mail system over Chrysler for the slow letter delivery. And if you still want to get in Chrysler's face about something, beat on them about the Sebring. [Windsor Star]

Houston Stripper Steals Identity, Buys Cars

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:40:00 EDT

This little ray of sunshine is Stacy Marie Oberley, a 28-year-old stripper who lives in Houston. Normally a delicate flower such as this wouldn't merit scrutiny, but apparently Miss Stacy Marie has been a bad girl. Not only is she on probation for narcotics trafficking, but she has stolen the identity of an autistic woman and used it to buy luxury cars. Dainty. According to police, she used the Social Security number to purchase a Maserati Coupé and some form of 2006 BMW. While police have recovered the Maserati, they have yet to find either the BMW or Miss Oberley, but we're sure they have a couple ideas on where she might be.

All of this only goes to confirm our suspicion of women with neck tattoos and 'Marie' as a middle name, kind of like a man with two first names — careful scrutiny required. We're kind of wondering why she didn't just pick up Jenna's Lambo. [Houston Chronicle]

Blue Cross Employees Need To NEVER Leave Social Security Numbers In Their Cars!

Ray Wert — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:59:03 EDT

Ok, seriously — if you work for an insurance company in any capacity, you need to not leave any personal information for the people who pay for insurance at your company in your car, ready to be stolen. Like the Blue Cross employee who forced the insurance netwoek to notify

"262 subscribers that personal information, including Social Security numbers — about them and 298 of their dependents — were taken March 31 from [the] employee's car at a Downriver location that Blue Cross officials declined to name."

Luckily most of the subscribers are from southeast Michigan, and have the resources in the form of money and time...

...to combat any potential for abuse from identity thieves. Unless of course they're laid-off autoworkers. In which case they're totally screwed. More than likely as it's in the Downriver area the thief isn't smart enough to realize the treasure trove they've now picked up, thinking instead that the real score's the faux-leather briefcase they found it in. Silly little Downriver thief! – Ray Wert

Social Security numbers and other info taken from Blue Cross worker's car [Freep]

Related:
GM Employees Put The Social In Social Security [internal]

GM Employees Put The Social In Social Security

Ray Wert — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 22:45:02 EST

Is it possible for things to be worse for a GM employee? How about if you are one of 100 GM workers that a Michigan man targeted in a plot to commit identity theft? Yeah, then it could be worse.

Here's how the plot went down...

...James Stafford Green II, the Michigan man arraigned today on three separate charges, sent emails to employees of the General identifying himself as a member of GM Company Vehicle Operations. In these emails Green would request his targets confirm personal and confidential information including their social security numbers.

The incident brings to mind a number of questions. One, how did Green get the names and emails? Two, how gullible do GM employees have to be to send their personal information not only to some other random employee, but more specifically a random employee using his Yahoo email account?!?

This does not bode well for the workforce of the great state of Michigan.

Police say man obtained Social Security numbers of GM employees [Freep]