Schumer Reveals: Huge Loophole Makes Buffalonians' Social Security Numbers Available on the Web--Enormous Potential for ID Theft
SCHUMER REVEALS: HUGE LOOPHOLE MAKES BUFFALONIANS' SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB - ENORMOUS POTENTIAL FOR ID THEFT
Schumer Announces Legislation That Would Keep Personal Data Secure
U.S. Senator Schumer today revealed that unrestricted access to an Erie County website containing social security numbers and bank account information puts Buffalo citizens at serious risk for identity theft. Schumer expressed outrage at how easily one could pull these numbers from the website and announced legislation that would require personal data to be redacted before uploaded to the web.
"Having Social Security numbers freely available on the Internet is like standing on the street corner with no clothes on," Schumer said. "These personal documents available on the Internet keeps Western New Yorkers exposed and vulnerable. We need to do everything we can to guard against identify theft, not help the criminals commit it."
Schumer explained that anyone with an internet connection and willing to pay a fee can access very personal documents like mortgages, deeds, power of attorney forms, and terminations of leases at www.ecclerk.erie.gov
Data mining companies across the country, once paying the $250 fee, could have access to a homeowner's name, address, bank and loan information, and, most disturbingly, social security number. While these legal documents are public records, having unredacted copies posted on the internet for easy, legal, and anonymous access jeopardizes the privacy of millions of New Yorkers.
Under current law, the County Clerks, as keepers of the records, do not have the authority nor the resources to redact Social Security numbers. County clerks offices are recording offices that are required to maintain public records. They cannot legally alter documents that are offered to them.
Schumer today proposed legislation that would do Schumer will introduce federal legislation to: restrict the sale and display of Social Security Numbers by local, State, and Federal governments, and regulate the disclosure of Social Security Numbers by local, State, and Federal governments via the Internet.
Last year, Schumer introduced the Comprehensive Identity Theft Prevention Act that, among other things, would restrict the sale, solicitation, and display of Social Security Numbers, mandate the FTC to conduct a study and make recommendations concerning the use of Social Security Numbers by the Government, and create an Office of Identity Theft to assist victims recapture their stolen identities.
http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2006/PR75.Buffalo%20SS%20Numbers.022106.html