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Scams

by Mike Masnick

Thu, Jun 3rd 2004 6:48am





Paying For Personal Info Online Not Likely To Get You Very Far

from the suckers-wanted dept

I'm pretty sure we've seen articles quite similar to this before, but the NY Times has sent a reporter out to test out one of those "find out anything about anyone" online services. As you might expect, they tried to find out some info on themselves, and while the writer appears to have spent plenty of money, it doesn't look like he found out very much. Some of it was quite accurate, but it was mixed in with so much false data that you would probably have to already know him (or be him) to know which was true and which was false. Also, it seems likely that much of the info could be figured out from other sources for free. The best part was the "background check" the site he used offered for $45. That told him the names of (possibly, if they got it right) a few of his neighbors, and that his wife and his daughter were actually the same person. So, for those of you worried about others looking you up and digging up your private info, rest assured that the amount of data they dig up will probably just as misleading as it is revealing.

6 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    NOBODY, Jun 3rd, 2004 @ 6:58am

    Not only that, there's no regulation on it at all. There's nothing to stop any of these guys from flat out making something up. It's funny.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 3rd, 2004 @ 7:21am


    Sadly, it is not funny.
    It's liable if its erroneous and in print.
    It can seriously affect employment, credit & security of financial & personal records as well as giving tools to people that probably shouldn't have access to information on me for a measly 45 bucks.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    identicon
    NOBODY, Jun 3rd, 2004 @ 9:01am

    Still,
    I think most employers and creditors would know better than to go to a $45 "get information on anyone" service.

    I think you would be alarmed at how much of our personal information is exposed. Not to mention the draconian pseudo Stalinist methods of data mining prescribed in the Patriot act.

    There are serious threats to our privacy and security out there. This isn't one of them.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    identicon
    thecaptain, Jun 3rd, 2004 @ 10:28am

    [B]I think most employers and creditors would know better than to go to a $45 "get information on anyone" service.[/B] You have a much higher opinion of employers than I do my friend. I believe MANY of them will not only happily pay these services, but will be thrilled because its such a "savings" over the traditional checks they did before. None of them will ever be aware (or even care) if the info supplied is inaccurate. These people don't surf and they don't read, they don't see these stories and they don't really care.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Rob, Jun 3rd, 2004 @ 10:58am

    It's the "inaccurate info" part that worries me -- if someone uses one of these services to get info on you, and it erroneously reports a criminal record or, worse, that you're a registered sex offender or something. This could potentially wreck beyond repair someone's ability to get a job.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    identicon
    n/a, Jun 3rd, 2004 @ 1:29pm

    I didn't know Stalin wsa into data mining.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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