An analysis done by ID Analytics, a San Diego fraud detection company, shows that people whose personal data is compromised have a low risk of becoming victims of identity theft. This includes those whose credit cards are lost or stolen.

Their findings showed that the smaller the security breach (how many people’s identifying data is compromised by a bank or credit card company), the greater the likelihood for identity theft. The study found that those who steal identities have difficulties using stolen credit cards because they are quickly canceled.

ID Analytics is therefore suggesting that banks and credit card companies should NOT always notify customers of data breaches because the customers have little chance of becoming ID theft victims.

Does that make you feel better? If not, read the whole story.

2 Comments

  1. Corelli 02/19/2008 at 10:34 am - Reply

    I need help…fast. Someone I know who is a computer grad from Yale, offered to fix my computer that was acting up after a book fell on it. He is also a real estate broker, and had asked me to write letters to consumers for him before since my responses were great. I’d also sent him some customers. Well, he told me there’d be no charge to fix my computer since, “one hand washes the other.” He worked for 3.5 hours. Keep in mind that my files were there, just a few were not clear. He then told me he’d put them in C drive so that I could get them all easily. Well, the next day, most of the files were gone. He told me to take the computer to a shop and get a copy of the hard drive. The following day, all my files disappeared. These files hold my bank info, social security #, business plan, personal and business letters, business brochures and lots more. But I am mostly concerned that if he is that low to steal my information, could he not sell it? I need to trace what he did and stop him from using it all. Where do I go?

  2. Tracy Coenen 02/19/2008 at 10:44 am - Reply

    Did he steal your information or ruin your computer or both? Just to be safe, I would put a fraud alert on your credit report (so no new credit can be opened) and I’d start canceling credit cards and changing bank accounts if those numbers were on the computer. You can get information on the fraud alert by going to the website of one of the credit reporting agencies, Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian.

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