Identity theft

I recently had to confirm receipt my new credit card and consequently got embroiled in a conversation with one of their sales reps trying to sell me identity theft insurance.
According to the rep all the fraudsters need is name, address, date of birth.
This therefore leads me to query the necessity of having RHU members dates of birth on display on RHU.
Can someone explain why ? Thanks.

Its not a neccessity to have your birth date/age on display, its optional

Ive edited yours K9karma.

Anyone else who wishes to have their birth date/age removed, please pm me and i can update

Thank you Julie. I had tried removing it once before after a TV programme on the same subject but the system wouldn't let me. It's obviously an edit only Moderators can do.

As you can see from mine I'm 99 years old

Valid point K9Kharma - I too have myself down as a few years older

why is age on there anyway ?

Dunno, probably to add more a community feel would be my guess, either that or Julie just wants to be nosey

All forums i run i do have on thier that the board owners will not be held liable for any identity fraud that may result as use of the boards. Someone has tried once to do me for it and as the site (at the time) was hosted in the US then having age input is a legal requirement under COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act - i beleive) however COPPA only applies to the US

On this note I have also changed my date of birth in my profile, so birthday wishes to me will be a little pointless Unless it can be removed from my profile?

Mind you anyone that nicks my identity won't get far unless they want all my debts

Just seen your reply about removing it from my profile, I'll pm you Julie

it must be so easy - we have hd a bit of bother only last night with fraud & bank accounts!

my son got paid yesterday, took a little money out & then had a phone call from his bank. apparantly someone in Albania has been taking money out of his account - to the tune of a few hundred!

the bank dont know how this has happened and have also told him he will have to wait for 3 - 5 days until the money has actually gone - the transactions that have been made are pending, and then he has to get a statment & go through what he has authorised & what he has not & then try to claim the money back!

what amazed me was that my son was shopping in liverpool - made a frantic call to me at home & i rang the bank up to find out what had been going on, now obviously im female had his account number off a statment and i was given some information - though not all!

my brother last weekend, had a 800 withdrawl made out of his bank, he had had his wallet stollen and they did have the photo id driving licence, the person went into the bank and made this cash withdrawl, so either my brother must have a double or they do not check id properl!

I dont mind. Mines always in the red anyway and they couldnt get anymore credit cos I cant get any! Let them get on with it!!!!!!

vexy wrote:Just seen your reply about removing it from my profile, I'll pm you Julie

Done

I really wouldn't take that carefree attitude to your financial position Beth. It can happen to anyone regardless of their current credit rating.
Identity theft is different to the case stated above where the wallet was stolen.
With identity theft people will set up new accounts in your name and use those accounts to obtain goods. Doesn't have to be bank accounts. For example can be with any organisation who allows you to buy goods on a buy now pay later basis. You could end up with bailiffs on your doorstep taking your dogs in lieu of payment.