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  #1  
Old September 18, 2009, 09:15 PM
Sandi Bowman
 
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Default Your own custom font? Danger!

I just saw a presentation by Chris Pirillo regarding FontCapture.com...and it set off alarm bells in my head. Why? Well, if someone had this font that they create from your handwriting or printing, they could easily forge your signature to danged near anything. OUCH!

While it is true that our signatures don't necessarily reflect our over-all handwriting, it would be fairly simple to figure things out and modify since there's little or no restriction or requirement for ID before producing the font. Scarey possibilities, IMHO.

Sandi Bowman
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  #2  
Old September 19, 2009, 03:23 PM
Bozo
 
Posts: n/a
Default Not scary at all

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandi Bowman View Post
Well, if someone had this font that they create from your handwriting or printing, they could easily forge your signature to danged near anything. OUCH!
Sandi Bowman

Everybody you ever sent a check to has access to your real signature. Do you trust all those people?

Nobody ever checks to make sure it was you that signed the check, or the application, or whatever form. All they need and use is the account number, your tax number, or the ID card.

Test it out. Sign your next check with your off hand and see if it clears. Make up a new signature and try it out. Nobody checks, nobody cares.

The crooks that steal your identity don't care what your signature looks like. Give them the account numbers they need, and they submit signed applications and get service just like it was you in person.

Signature card at the bank? Do you think they pull the card to check your signature every time a check comes through? The bank signature card is just smoke and mirrors to make you feel secure. It's stored away in a deep dark corner, never to be seen again.

The two biggest dangers I've seen for ID theft are courthouse records and medical records.

Anybody can browse mortgage records, deeds, and other important stuff at the courthouse, as all that stuff is public record. Lots of those documents require the SSN or tax ID number on them.

My wife and I married in Las Vegas. Standing in line to get the application, I noticed that every clerk had a stack of completed applications in front of him, face up, with SSN's plainly visible to everybody that cared to look. We refused to put the number on the form. The head clerk was ready with a form that said it was required and no number no license. Screw'em, we saved a further confrontation by just making up numbers. Also due to our outburst all the stacks of applications were turned over. We got grins of appreciation from our line mates.

Every doctor's office and hospital you deal with, among the first questions they ask is "What's your social?". They key everything on the SSN, and those papers lay around on desks for anybody in the office to see.

I tell them my SSN is not in their records and to use my insurance number. "Oh we have to have your social!" they say. Nope, you don't. My medical insurance and all my medical records are sans social. How did I manage that? I told them NO.

I was professionally licensed in two states without disclosing my SSN, when the biggest font on the front of the form was the place to put the SSN. SSN REQUIRED, it said. BS, I just said no. Also I sent a copy of the law that says the SSN may not be used for ID and that no agency can refuse service or benefits for failing to provide the SSN. Just say no.
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  #3  
Old September 19, 2009, 06:40 PM
Sandi Bowman
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Your own custom font? Danger!

What you say has merit, however, I wasn't referring to banking stuff in particular. My concern these days is that people could falsify a LOT of things, not just your signature since information access is so easy these days.

What that means: with your basic info easily accessible on the internet, you could lose a lot more than money if someone had your handwriting style and characters all in one spot. You could find that your last wishes, your will, your testimonials on who knows what, or on anything that REQUIRES you to write more than your signature could be forged and you could suffer consequences not even guessed at.

It would be a BIG boon to the drug pushers if they could get hold of a doctor's writing and dupe it on stolen RX pads. No matter how you cut it, this scheme spells RISK in my book.

Go to a hospital and they'll check their records (eventually) to see if you've had specific things found or done there. A forged document could be a sure way to the morgue...and quickly. I see far more than just a simple checking account here.

Getting the wrong information into your files even at the social security office, is easy as pie as my sister found out recently. Trying to get it UNdone is nearly impossible and is costing her dearly...and it wasn't even her mistake...some clerical error on their part.

If anyone wanted to do you in, financially, medically, or otherwise, having access to your handwriting in an easily modified form could be disastrous.

I didn't even mention essays and other documents that are part of the educational and licensing processes. This type of font production makes 'must be in applicant's own handwriting' a big, fat, joke...and not a very funny one at that.

Sandi Bowman
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  #4  
Old September 21, 2009, 12:24 AM
-TW
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Your own custom font? Danger!

I saw a tv special once where they tested this "they don't check your signature on checks" idea.

All of these progressively horrible attempts CLEARED JUST FINE...

sign name with another "new" signature

sign some other (random) name

sign "Mickey Mouse" or "Santa Claus"

sign "Do Not Process This Check!"

-- TW
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  #5  
Old September 21, 2009, 03:55 AM
MichaelRoss
 
Posts: n/a
Default Here's PROOF what you sign makes no difference

If you haven't already done so, check out this Credit Card Prank. It starts here http://www.zug.com/pranks/credit/ and after you follow the pages through and see him Not sign his real signature and not get questioned, he goes into another mode here http://www.zug.com/pranks/credit_card/

WARNING: The above may cause you to laugh, maybe even cry with funny stuff this guy signs his receipts with.

Michael Ross
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  #6  
Old September 21, 2009, 05:55 AM
Phil
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Here's PROOF what you sign makes no difference... Now for the Not so Funny...

Good one Michael...

Now for the Not so Funny...

2008...
How much is my credit card number worth on the black market?
http://www.slate.com/id/2189902/

2005...
Black Market in Stolen Credit Card Data Thrives on Internet
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/21/te...gy/21data.html

September 2009...
Technology might be getting somewhat Smarter and better... But what about Consumerism Knowledge in general?

Ever wondered how much your online identity is worth to a cybercriminal? A new tool from Symantec Corp. will perform the calculation for you...

A mix of Smart and Creative Marketing... Promoting software and at the same time Helping spread awareness on Cybercrime...

How Much Are You Worth To The Online Black Market?
http://www.privacydigest.com/2009/09...black%20market

Educate Yourself and Be informed... You've been Warned once again!

And of course there are Multiple business ideas Throughout with a little innovative Thinking...

Identity Theft Hotsheets... Endless Advertising possibilities and publications... Identity Theft Consumer/business Consulting & services etc. etc...
http://weakonomics.com/2009/06/09/we...es-make-money/
http://weakonomics.com/

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
http://www.privacyrights.org/
http://www.scambusters.org/identitytheft.html

Phil
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