More Privacy Invaded

Went to Albertson's market today with my wife(some-
thing I try to avoid). Paid for our small purchase using
a Discover card, at one of those automatic checker
machines(which I hate).

The wife was operating the machine while I stood by
in my usual supermarket stupor. However, I did take
a last minute notice that upon the CC authentication,
she was also asked for the users zip code.

Recalling this recent topic here, I asked her how long
she had noticed this requirement. Of course, she could
not recall(nor, would I be able to), but she said it had
been since the automatic checker machines had been
installed.

I assume that the same requirement applies if using a
human checker, by entering the information on the key-
pad mounted at each checker station.

(J)ust (M)y (O)bservation....

Gary

 

Well, I assume they(the credit card company in question)
had several big meetings to decide which piece of infor-
mation they could request to make it appear that they
are tough on fraud(aka identity misuse/theft).

One could fraudulently possess a credit card, and have the additional
documentation disclosing zip code(as is the
case with a stolen wallet/purse), or not. My wife lost a
credit card at a restaurant(she said they didn't return it,
and she didn't notice until home), and the new holder of
the card would not have had the zip code. However, I
lost a complete wallet years ago, and all this information
would have been easily available to the finder.

Without the use of a PIN it's about the only option they
have at their disposal, without appearing to be too intru-
sive. Actually, I don't know why they don't use a PIN.
People seem accepting of this practice, except for the
need just to remember one more number.

The CC in my Albertson's story was mine. I use it freq-
uently(although not for gas or supermarkets), and I've
never been asked the zip code question. However, I'm
thinking as authentication software(those automatic
checkers at the supermarket are just Win/XP systems)
is upgraded, the practice will become more prevalent.

So, it looks like the zip code query is slowly coming to
a retail facility near all of us. I don't really see it as harm-
full, but I suspect the protection it is intended to provide,
is only minimal.

Although I certainly don't know this as fact, I suspect that
this recent ploy has come as a legislative directive, meant
to placate congressional constituents worry about the ever
increasing problem of CC abuse. If that's the case, and it
came from government, I'm surprised it's not more screw-
ed up than it is.

Why don't you call your CC company and ask them what
the story is on the new authentication requirement. I'm
sure they'd be happy to explain it to you.


Gary

 

<snip the rest of your inane, uninformed rantings>

It's already been shown many times in this thread that you (and your father)
are uninformed/uneducated on the subject at hand. But, as a Walker, we all
know that you're going to keep arguing and backpedaling in order to make
yourself feel better....so, have at it.

 

Maybe because it's easy to forge a drivers license?
I wouldn't know how hard it would be to get a fake ID.
Walmart contacted me once about someone that made a purchase with a bad
check using my DL#. I doubt the cashier actually checked the number on the
check with the DL# of the perp.

I don't blame ya.

 

I'm beginning to see the benefit of having mechanical spiders crawl up your
chest, pry open your eyelids, and make a retina scan every time you use your
card.
What line do I stand in to vote for that?

 

I don't know. But yesterday, I cut up all my credit, debit, and ATM
cards and threw away the slivers. I also shredded all my back year
financial records and tax returns, and removed the house number from
the curb and the front of my house, and painted over my name and street
number on the mailbox. I called the phone company and changed my
number to unlisted, and I turned in my cell phone, closed the account,
and bought a pre-paid "throw-away" cell phone. I left for work early,
in the dark, and stopped near a construction site and splashed mud on
my license plate. I cancelled my cable TV account, all my magazine
subscriptions, and recorded an electronic voice greeting for my home
phone answering machine, "You have reached the Smith residence, please
leave a message at the beep."

I'm posting this from a PC in the local branch of the public library,
and I'm wearing a wig, dark glasses, and a fake moustache and beard.

No one's getting my personal information from me, by golly.

Jesse '88 (not my real name... or is it?)

 

P.S. I bought gas at the local Diamond Shamrock, today. I paid cash
money, and I spoke to the cashier using a fake middle east accent. I
used small, crumpled bills, and I wore gloves. I parked my car so that
the dealer couldn't even see the muddied plate!

 

I'll be giving out my real name to all:
John Doe
111 Main Street, Everytown USA.

 

well, it depends, some of the manned station still print
a receipt for you to sign (oh no! give out my name!?!?!)
other machines (both manned and unmanned) actually have
a pad & pen for electronic signatures, but for one that
don't (like gas stations) your billing zip code it the
new lame PIN.

And to clarify for some of the slower I've seen here
it is NOT to prevent identity theft, it IS to prevent
fraudulent card usage. I will stipulate it is a fairly
thin protection, so don't bother going on about its'
effectiveness in situations where the bad guy can also
get your zip code (but as an aside, if you switch to
a remote billing address then it won't match your DL)
But to claim this is any kind of privacy invasion is
ludicrously absurd.

Bruce

 

There is absolutely nothing that you should be the least bit concerned
about, then.. is there ? Ever wonder where all the junk mail comes from
that is in your mailbox everyday.. Then .. there is the dinner time
telephone calls from telemarketers that you receive in the evenings Many
people have taken offense and complained about them.. There've even been
hearings conducted in the State Capitols and in Washington concerning those
annoying calls.. right ?

Texas DPS has recognized the additional revenue they can collect by selling
information to telemarketing firms.. Each one of us who provides personal
and private information so freely, are contributing to our own annoyances
that have nothing to do tin foil hats, black helicopters or the like..

Be especially civil to those annoying telemarkets when they interrupt your
quiet time with your family.. Don't be offended when some guy hiding behind
anonymous telephone numbers calls you and demands payment for bills which
you know nothing about.. Be courteous when you are solicited to contribute
to charities which you've never heard of.. By all means, when a computer
calls you on your telephone, please provide all the information they request
from you..

Bill Walker

 

So true. I've stopped filling out product surveys for just this reason
unless they are anonymous.

 

Yeah, you're right, identity theft is not a consideration.

My bad....

Gary

 

I briefly saw on the TV news recently where some big
outfit(but the name escapes me) was being fined in the
many millions for continuing to call folks that had sub-
scribed to the "no-call" list. But, something I've always
wondered - the no-call subscribers suffer the violation(s),
but the government always gets the punitive damage
award? Sounds like just another taxation....

Gary

 

I failed to mention the unsolicited e-mails that we receive on our
computers.. There are few of us who do not have virus protections on our
PC's for protections.. Many of us have been struck with virus' that have
wiped out or fried our computers in the past.. Some of us even pay a fee for
that protection.. Surely our friends aren't wittingly passing these virus'
along to us..

Bill Walker

 

That's exactly what it is.. And where does that money go ? We never see
those adjustments in our tax bills or fees that we pay for licenses, etc.

The "black hole" of government seems to absorb that money, or is it even
collected ? Who knows..

We've become so insensitive to the prying eyes that ask us for private
information, we don't even notice anymore.. No matter how insignificant or
innocent the information asked for may seem, we respond without question..
If and when we do question, there is a flood of guffaws, and comments of
imagined "tin foil hats", conspiracies and "black helicopters", etc..

Sorry, but when a question for personal information is asked of me, if it is
not the norm that I am used to, I will question it.. If the person who asks
the questions, can not respond with reasonable justification for that
information, he won't get it, from me.. Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

lol... I wonder what kind of anti-virus protection that Nurick has on his
computer and if he'll be willing to disable that anit-virus protection for a
few days.. ??

 

Depends on your state laws. Look it up. For instance, this is one
state's law regarding personal recompense for victims, and it is in
ADDITION to any federal fines levied against the guilty party or
parties:

....permits individuals to sue to enjoin violations, recover damages of
$500 for each violation or up to $1,500 for willful violations, and
recover their attorneys' fees and court costs

Jesse '88

 

As opposed to this:

"I'm going out and fill out a bunch of those surveys right now....and
use the people's information that don't mind it being revealed...."

which is OBVIOUSLY the work of a 13-year-old !!!

ROTFLMAO

Jesse

 

Me, either.

 

‘‘I'm posting this from a PC in the local branch of the public
library, and I'm wearing a wig, dark glasses, and a fake moustache and
beard.
No one's getting my personal information from me, by golly.
(Jesse '88) (not my real name... or is it?)

‘‘Now you know how it feels to work undercover, as an
ignoramus’’ BJAY)!