AT&T Crack Part of a Phishing Operation 96
JohnGrahamCumming writes "According to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle the AT&T store crack was the prelude to a very sophisticated phishing operation. The phishers were aiming to use the information from the store to fool existing customers into divulging SSNs and other personal information." From the article: "'The information that was provided by customers who ordered DSL-related equipment included name, address, e-mail address, phone number, credit card number and credit card expiration,' the memo says, adding that the hacked data didn't include Social Security numbers or birth dates. But the hackers had a scheme to get this extra info. After accessing the customer data, they incorporated it into phishing messages that were promptly sent to AT&T's DSL customers ... Each message included a legitimate order number culled from the AT&T vendor's database to create an illusion of authenticity. Messages also included the recipient's home address and the last four digits of his or her credit card number. "
SSN (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Privacy violations rampant (Score:2, Interesting)
Most reasonable credit card companies / banks will contact customers if there is activity typically associated with fraud spotted on the account.
What is the real solution to unsolicited calls?
Don't give out information; hang up and call back using the real customer service number.
Never give out your SSN: Sooner said than done (Score:5, Interesting)
When I was in the emergency room with chest pain and they handed me a form, with a place for my SSN on it, and I asked if I had to give it, and they said "you won't be seen until you fill it out," what would you have done? Argued with them? Called a lawyer? Whipped out a copy of the law that says they can't do this? Asked them to get an ambulance to take me to another ER? Raise the ante and see whether they were bluffing? No, I did what I thought would affect my blood pressure least, and get me seen soonest, which was... to cave in. I gave it to them, and I believe anyone with any sense would have done the same thing. Worry about it later. I had more important things to worry about.
And I think I'm _reasonably_ assertive about such things. Back Massachusetts drivers' licenses had SSN's by default, I was one of the people who always asked for and got a different number. When the Red Cross wanted my SSN for blood donations, I said I wouldn't give it to them and they issued me a donor card with a non-SSN.
When my company's medical insurance wanted my SSN, I said I wouldn't provide it. They said fine, but we won't insure you. So I called the Social Security office, and said "do I have to give it to them?" And their answer, practically verbatim, was, "No, you certainly don't. However, they are under no obligation to provide you with insurance unless you do."
Whenever I'm asked for my SSN, I always ask if there's an alternative. (And wait while they check with their supervisor). I succeed maybe half the time. The other half, well, I usually cave.
If you can get along without credit cards, auto loans, medical insurance, and emergency rooms, more power to you.
That line on every social security card that says "Not For Identification Purposes" is a lie, plain and simple.