Comments submitted by:
Michael Shames, Esq.
Barry Fraser, Esq.
of UCAN
I. Introduction
Fred's son (age 10) received a pre-approved credit offer in the mail. Fred traced the offer back to the national athletic organization that oversees the swimming program in which his son participated. Angered that the organization would release the names and addresses of its young participants, he took his son out of the swimming program.
Fred's name has been changed to protect his privacy.
Free Credit Reports to End
The only credit reporting bureau to offer free credit reports to consumers will halt this practice March 1, 1997.
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.