A very caring and sincere friend of mine called me in exasperation on the other day. The conversation went like this:
“I just don’t know why anyone would want to steal my identity! I’m not rich or famous and work hard to earn every DIME of my money! This is terrible – now I have to get new credit card numbers and email address and passwords!”
“Wow, that’s terrible. What happened?” I had to ask, naturally, because that’s what friends are for – calling on the phone, sharing your woes and, in my case, forcing them to be distracted from the current project that is already behind schedule. . .
“Well, I’ve been joining forums, newsgroups and some of those paid-to-read websites online – like the ones you recommend to people. And I opened a few online accounts to shop at, in order to buy discounted products – you know the way you always recommend.”
Why was I beginning to feel like whoever it was that had stolen her identity was suspected of being in collusion with me? “Oh, I see. So what happened?” What else could I say?
“Someone got my email address, my passwords and my credit card information too! They spent up all that I had on my cards, spammed some websites and sent emails to my friends with pornography in them!”
Of course I was stunned. “How in the world did that happened? Exactly what happened? Did you get a virus on your computer or some malware? You should have called me if you were having problems with your computer – generally they’ll act differently when something has been downloaded. ..” I trailed off knowing that getting me on the phone is about as easy as sliding uphill – wearing a suit of spiked clothing! Yet, had anyone called and left me a distress message, I’d have responded ASAP – within 5 or 6 hours!
“Well, you know when those sign up forms ask for your email address?”
“Yes.”
“And then they ask for your password?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I put in my password.”
“Oh. Uh, you put in YOUR email password on the application website?” Though I HAD mumbled to myself on many occasions that the way those forms presented the data fields any body could slip and put their personal email password there. Even I had to catch myself the first couple of times. . .
“Yes, I thought that’s what they wanted. . .Anyway, someone passed my email information to someone else and then they got into my email account!”
“So how did they get your credit card info and other stuff like that?” This was getting very strange to me, I admit there is very little available space in my personal idiocy domain for drama – let’s get to the point so we can solve the problem!
“Well, I didn’t store my passwords and account info in an encrypted file on my desktop, you know the way you always recommend? I just couldn’t stop and pull up the file, make up a code for the account and do all of that, so I simply emailed my credit card and other account information to myself! It’s way easier for me to open my email to get that info – you know I really like the Thunderbird email client that you recommended.”
“Oh. So, you put in your email password with your email address in an application for an online account for whatever it was THEN your email account got accessed and your identity got used. Is that what your telling me? Some jerk employee took advantage of you and now you’re credit is on the run?” This was waaaaaay past my drama quotient – I’m planning to not answer my phone for 90 days or more. . .
“Yes. Most of it is being charged off. But I had some very PRIVATE stuff in my email. And the porn stuff that got emailed out – I don’t even like porn!”
STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP.
This is a fictitious scenario. Over the course of signing up for a zillion different memberships, accounts, mailing lists, etc. I find that the most frequently used form first asks for your email address then, password. Anyone that isn’t paying attention would simply put their email password in the box provided and that’s the upshot of this posting: PAY ATTENTION TO ALL QUESTIONS, FINE PRINT AND INFORMATION REQUESTED OF YOU IN CYBERSPACE AND IN PRINT.
It only takes one slip to fall and really hurt yourself. Mind your business, as in be mindful when doing business because as the saying goes, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. . .
YE is Here!
SUR-BET Global Enterprise Network
YE is an author; WebPreneur; electronics, computer & gadget geek; Certified Holistic Health Consultant; grandmother and devoted traveler that currently resides in Georgia. She can be contacted for interviews, consultations and general comments at either of her websites or by email at: yehasmoney4u@s-bgen.com
©2008 S.U.R.-B.E.T. Publishing
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This post was written by YEisHere! on August 22, 2008
