2 edits | Ahem...
"Law Enforcement" has it's hands full just trying to enforce the millions of laws on the books over the entire country.
The only time you hear about them is when they take down some lowlife who has made a royal irritation of himself, such as spamming millions of e mails, or, viruses/worms that get into major corporations/media/military/government networks and cause havoc.
Or, when you hear of some lame assed sherriffs deputy impersonating young girls to try and trap some hapless dufus when they should be out on the streets fighting crime (and, before you get on your high horse and spew indignation: I do not mean these comments on this subject to indicate my actual stance on pedophiles and their use of the internet for this purpose).
The only way the ISP's will be forced to police their networks is when the laws and lawsuits start flying over the ever increasing problem of identity theft, which is inevitable.
Identity theft is one of the biggest pains in the ass ever for the person who's identity is stolen and that pain WILL translate to complaints and pressure on lawmakers.
It will probably result in some long overdue policing of the credit reporting agencies too, since they are at the heart of the consumers problem and heartburn. They are another system that has gotten entirely out of hand and have much too much power destroy a consumers life, or, cripple them for years.
Never mind that, under the Social Security act, ones SS# Is not supposed to be used as a universal ID number as it is now for this very reason and it IS illegal to use it so.
The law is just not enforced because your SS# has gotten far too entrenched in the economy and trying to get another form of universal ID fails time after time because the american people oppose it.
Corporations know this, which is why they (mostly) wont try to deny you service for refusing to give them your SS#, especially if you dont go for their whining or veiled threats of doing so. THAT is illegal too and they know it.
Proof is in the puddin: I routinely refuse to provide my SS#. I am NEVER refused. The only reason they want it in the first place is so that they can REPORT YOU TO THE CREDIT BUREAUS.
They know that doing so can hobble/destroy you for years if you need credit and it is the only real way they have to get back at you if you dont pay, since most businesses will NOT sue you, unless you owe thousands because it simply is not cost effective for them to spend money on lawyers to do so.
Never mind that, even though a bad debt is supposed to only stay on your credit bureau record for 7 years (9 for bankruptcy), your bad debt will be sold time and time again to various companies that try to collect such bad debts and, each time this happens and they contact you then report you to the credit bureau, THE CLOCK STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN, thereby bypassing the law that says 7 years because as far as the bureau is concerned, it is a new debtor reporting you.
The fact is that very few have a LEGITIMATE reason, such as for drivers licenses, the IRS (who WILL issue you a "Taxpayer number" different from your SS# if you ask them too, as will those states who use the SS# as the license number)and banks (allthough it escapes me WHY since you are only using them for a service by applying for a account.).
The reason they really want it, of course, is the IRS, just in case, and because of debit cards, to REPORT YOU TO THE CREDIT BUREAUS, which they do regularly.
This is, of course, why the credit card offers start coming shortly after you open an account and sign up for utilities.
The ripple effect implications of cracking down on spammers, identity thieves and phishers, let alone the credit bureaus are stunning if one stops and considers. |
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I said: "when the laws and lawsuits start flying", as they inevitably will. Pressure on congress and state legislatures WILL mount as more and more instances of ID theft happen and people are caught up in the quagmire of the credit bureaus treating THEM like they are liars, cheats and criminals when they try to undo the damage done to their credit histories and reputations.
The laws WILL change concerning credit, etc and the credit bureaus had better wake up and smell the coffee before the wrath of lawmakers falls on them.
It may take some time, but it WILL happen and there will be massive changes in how credit, etc works in this country, since credit is at the heart of the economy.
One thing is for sure: The holliday is definately over for the credit card companies and credit bureaus.
They have had it good for a long time, but ID theft will prove to be their downfall because people value their reputations and get really riled when they are treated like the criminal when they are innocent.
As I said: The ripple effect consequences to business, consumers and the economy will be stunning to behold once lawmakers start taking up ID theft laws. It will be federal most likely under the interstate commerice banner, allthough, doubtless, states will get in their licks too.
I, for one, will be glad to see these arrogant shits get theirs, finally. As I'm sure will many of you.
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