349 - How will you handle an identity theft crisis?

This is a question that has no easy answer.

We are all responsible for protecting our data as much as we can.

This morning, @Richard Shutt asked this exact question.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/richardshutt_who-should-be-in-charge-of-protecting-our-activity-6886189021966454785-t0Ia

Unfortunately, our data is held digitally everywhere.

Our insurance companies, employers, medical professionals, schools, Secretary of State, the IRS and other government entities, all have our information.

Responsibility should lie on whoever has has it.

Whether the government, an insurance company or an employer has our personal information, they should be responsible for it.

When a person entrusts you with their possession (like borrowing the lawnmower) you take care of it, right? You are responsible.

With that said, in the event your identity is stolen, who can prove that the information was stolen from a specific location when our information is so widespread?

It is not easily tracked.

Here is a case of credit card fraud:

A gentleman, Mr. Smith, was unexpectedly working from home one day when he noticed a delivery van pull up. He figured the driver would ring the door bell when the package was delivered but then he saw the van pull away.

Mr. Smith went to the door and saw that there was no package. He was curious why, so he jumped in his car and tracked down the delivery van. Mr. Smith asked the driver why he hadn't delivered a package.

The driver said, "I did deliver a package to, Mr. Smith". Now Mr. Smith was irritated. He asked the driver, "I am Mr. Smith, did you give me a package?"

The confused driver said, "No sir, I gave it to the same man I always give packages to". (Twilight Zone Music)

Who was "the man"?

The credit card thief was not so stupid as to have packages delivered to his own house. He was having packages delivered to Mr. Smtih's house since normally no one is home at that time.

Where did the thief get the credit card information?

Whose credit card was it?

There is little chance of finding out and now the thief will simply find another address for deliveries.

Luckily, in the case of credit cards, we have some protection.

But, what about more important information like medical, driver's license or social security numbers that are not monitored?

Keep in mind monitoring services only cover credit related incidences. Your social security number can be used for other things as well.

Who is responsible? That falls along the lines of who's fault it is, but offers no solution.

The more important question is, how will you handle an identity theft crisis?

Do you know how you will handle an identity theft crisis?

#workingfromhome #identitytheft #databreach #data

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/richardshutt_who-should-be-in-charge-of-protecting-our-activity-6886189021966454785-t0Ia