The problems of identity theft
- by admin
There have always been people prepared to pretend they were someone else. Indeed, some of the greatest “crimes” of all time have been committed by assuming another’s identity. Think of all the various fraud and deception crimes we have as laws, and forgery and counterfeiting and all the other offenses which depend on confusing people into parting with their property. In the past, this all depended on detailed research into a target. Dumpster diving is not a new sport. Criminals have been reading your garbage for centuries to learn all about you through what you throw away. The only change since the internet took off is the ease with which your identity can be stolen. In the past, all the important information was written down on pieces of paper that could be stored anywhere in your home. Now you have everything digitized and stored in the same place. Worse, this storage device is connected to the outside world and anyone with the skill to hack your PC can access your data. Although, truth be told, they don’t actually have to hack your machine these days. They can just sit outside your home and read what’s showing on your screen. There’s not much you can do about that.
So why should this affect the insurance world? Well, if someone steals your personal information, accesses your bank and credit card accounts, he might just as well insure his vehicles in your name. Or, if this thief is driving around without insurance, it’s always convenient to be able to prove he is you. Either way, this is bad news for insurance companies because they may find themselves caught up in deciding who is the right person to make a claim or paying out only to discover the money has been paid to an identity thief.
Well, here’s a gentle reminder to everyone who buys insurance online. Never respond to e-mails or text messages asking for your personal information, or giving you web addresses where you can get free quotes. We all know about phishing. We should never reply to these lures. But there is a new variation. Criminals are putting up sites offering to give you free quotes. They look safe except when it comes to the information they ask for. Legitimate auto insurance sites do not ask for your social security or driver’s license number. It’s easy to get caught because you know this information will identify you directly and allow a personalized quote. But your name and ZIP code identify you with sufficient certainty for quoting purposes, giving access to records of at-fault accidents, records of tickets and your credit score. Never give your social security or driver’s license number to get free auto insurance quotes. The situation may change when it cones to confirming the purchase of the policy. The company or its agent may want additional proof you are who you claim to be. If there’s any doubt in your mind should someone telephone to ask for this information, do not give it. Always make the call yourself to a verified telephone number or send the information to a verified web address. Protect yourself at all times!