Recently a large food chain discovered its debit and credit card system had benn breached. Over four million transactions
had been processed during the time from the end of 2007 and mid February of 2008. Over eighteen hundred experienced some type of identity theft as a direct result of this breach.
Another
chain prior to this went through a similar sitiuation when their carrier sysytem got broken into. The VA a couple of years ago saw a worker take home a sensitive data disc only to have it stolen from his home. The world of plastic and technology is here. And so too are those twisted minds hell bent on using it to their own advantage.
Identity theft losses is in the billions world wise. Even presidential candidates are having their passport records looked at unlawfully. This
information data base system is great for locating bits of information quickly, but safeguards have to be in place. Credit alert sytems warn its users by email should someone attempt to use their credit info. It does save a large amount of debt for the user. Yet it is but a small step in the right direction.
As long as unscrupulus people are out there, the problem will exist. Only by tougher penalties and tighter controls on how data is stored and accessed will an end come to this epidemic of fraud. We all must do our part. The time for action is now.