This seems to be a delayed repeat; I responded to it in some detail when it was first posted.
--- In [email protected], Sal Sunshine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Aug 22, 2006, at 6:49 PM, authfriend wrote: > > > --- In [email protected], Sal Sunshine <salsunshine@> > > wrote: > >> > >> On Aug 22, 2006, at 5:45 PM, authfriend wrote: > >> > >>> I had to supply it to my lawyer when I purchased a > >>> condo recently; the town requires it to transfer the > >>> deed. And as I noted, a physician I went to for a > >>> flu shot asked for it as well. It's still fairly > >>> common. > > And those are routine occurrences? > >> > >> Only in your world, Judy. > > > > Uh, no, Sal. It's still fairly common, as I said > > (and the AARP confirms). > > > >> Last time I got a flu shot I paid them 10 > >> bucks and they gave me the shot. I could have been a Martian for > >> all they cared. > > > > And that proves...what, exactly? > > > > My health insurance card, with TEIGIT, has my SS# > > on it. I complained to them, because I can't carry > > the card in my wallet. They said they were working > > on a new system, but it wouldn't be ready for some > > time yet. > > Well, neither my health insurance card or that for my kids has any SS > #s on it. My driver's license used to, but they stopped that years > ago. I don't remember whether or not I had to give it to apply for any > of the credit cards I've had over the years. > > > I had to give my SS# to open a bank account six > > five years ago. You have to give it on most > > credit card applications. My landlord wanted it > > when I first rented the condo I just bought, also > > five years ago. > > And these relate to the TMO how, exactly? Would you describe any of the > above situations as routine? > > SS #s are generally asked for when security issues are at stake, like > with savings accounts and deeds, or when dealing with large amounts of > people. Neither of those situations applies to the TMO courses, > especially nowadays. > > > > You didn't answer my question, Sal. I don't think you > > have any actual threat in mind. You just thought it > > sounded good to use the word "intimidation." > > And you've proven my point for me, by admitting you wouldn't give it to > them. I think they know perfectly well that people, in general, don't > like to give them out and probably never have. I doubt they'd use them > for anything (since to my knowledge they never actually have)-- It's a > power trip. And I don't think getting involved in that kind of game is > healthy. > > And another point--usually when an organization asks you for one, > that's it. They don't keep asking you every single time. These idiots > just want you to know they've got something on you--again and again. > > > And again, see the AARP link, which explains why > > SS#s are routinely used for identification. > > I didn't see any link. > > > >>> For the record, if I had to give them my SS# to > >>> go on a course these days, I wouldn't do it, even > >>> if it meant I couldn't go. I don't trust them to > >>> keep those records secure from people who might > >>> use them for identity theft. > >> > >> So then you *do* think they could be used for nefarious purposes- - > > > > Of course. But that's not why the TMO is asking for > > them, obviously. > > OK, why are they asking for them then? > > > >> who else besides people in the TMO would ever have access to that > >> info? > > > > Not everyone in the TMO is necessarily an upstanding > > citizen, first of all. Some lower-level administrative > > person with financial needs and no scruples might have > > access to a list of SS#s and get ideas. Lists of SS#s > > are worth big bucks in the identity theft market. You > > can sell them to brokers, who then sell them to > > individuals who commit the actual identity theft. > > > > Second, there are any number of ways the numbers could > > get to non-TMO people. Someone could walk in a door > > left unlocked and steal the records; some nitwit TMer > > could throw a batch of unneeded printouts in the trash; > > a janitor could find the records sitting on someone's > > desk; a hacker could break into the computer system if > > it weren't secured properly, etc., etc., etc. > > > > This is why you don't want to have to give out your > > SS# if you can possibly avoid it--because they're > > *worth lots of money*, and even an organization > > with the most spotless motives can be careless about > > how they're handled. > > > > Knowing the level of disorganization and general > > incompetence in the TMO, I simply wouldn't trust them > > to keep the numbers secure. > > That's my point exactly. Whether it's directly by someone with some > nefarious intent, or simply because some idiot gets careless, you would > not trust the TMO with potentially sensitive information. Neither > would I. > > Sal > To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
