Comments on the Availability of Sensitive Information about Consumers and Its Possible Use for Financial Fraud

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Docket No. R-0953

Recent amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, signed into law on September 30, 1996, directed the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board to conduct a study on the availability of sensitive identification information about consumers and the possible use of such information for financial fraud.

Mike's mail was sent to New Jersey instead of his California address when someone filled out a U.S. Postal Service change of address card in his name. He lost $4,500 on one credit card and $6,000 on another as a result of this. He complained to the Post Office, but hasn't heard back from them.

Mike's name has been changed to protect his privacy.

Jake was recently traveling in Mexico. While parked outside a hotel, all his documents were stolen from his briefcase including his passport, checks for four checking accounts, 35 credit cards and his Social Security card. His camera, laptop and cellular phone were also in the briefcase, but were not stolen.

Jake's name has been changed to protect his privacy.

The Sacramento Police Department called Frida to tell her that someone made a fake driver's license using her name. A large drugstore chain had tossed old job applicants into the trash without shredding them. Someone found and used them to made fake IDs. Unable to write checks for a time because the fake ID had used her real driver's license number, Frida was eventually able to mostly clear her name with SCAN (check verification company).

By Beth Givens, PRC Director

Speech by Beth Givens, PRC Directo
Conference: Toward an Electronic Patient Record
Sheraton Harbor Hotel, San Diego, CA

The title of this talk is "Medical Records Privacy: Fears and Expectations of Patients". So you can get an understanding of my point of view, I want to start out by talking about our project, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, and then make several points about the topic.

Jenny had breast cancer and was seeking treatment from her HMO. She was contacted by the Northern California Cancer Center to participate in the Young Women's Breast Cancer Survey. Her health provider had disclosed her condition to this group without her consent. Although this disclosure wasn't against the law, Jenny was very upset and felt violated by it.

Jenny's name has been changed to protect her privacy.

Robert visited a chiropractor for a treatment. He decided not to return for more treatments, but the office's receptionist read his medical file and contacted him on her own. She was also an independent salesperson for Super Blue Green Algae and contacted him to get him to purchase the product from her. We told him about California's medical records confidentiality law and suggested he notify the chiropractor about his receptionist's privacy violation.

Robert's name has been changed to protect his privacy.

Peggy, an elderly woman who lives in a seniors complex, received several calls from a research company. They had been calling her unlisted number every evening demanding that she comply, even though she told them she didn't want to participate in the survey. Tired of the harassment, she contacted her state senator's office to complain who then contacted us. We both called the survey firm's office and complained on Peggy's behalf. Their assistant director was unaware of any harassing behavior, but vowed to investigate it.

Maddie joined the Audubon Society and also gave gift contributions to four friends. She specifically told the Audubon Society not to give her name to any other organizations, but they didn't follow her request. She and her friends all started to receive unwanted solicitations from other organizations. She complained to Audubon and got her money back.

Maddie's name has been changed to protect her privacy.