We are all required to provide personal information when we undertake business arrangements - such as obtaining a mobile phone or setting up a new bank account. The security of that information is now questioned after a mobile phone company was accused of lax security, allowing hackers access to what could result in " identity theft ".
This demand for information takes many forms. In some cases it involves not only date of birth, bank account branch and account number - but intrusive matter - such as " mother's maiden name ". The intent is good. That is something no stranger could be expected to know.
There is also a huge number of cases of what could be termed " soft security ". The public faces a demand that their photo driving license be presented - and photographed and this can be for such events as entry into a venue - or to be accepted as a customer of a video hiring shop.
Years later, that person may receive a letter of demand from a debt collection agency claiming non return of a video. The " proof of debt " is the fact that this video is said to have been booked out using photo license ID. It may be a typical computer error - or it may simply be a scam by a retired video shop owner who has sold his " debtors list " to a questionable collection agency.
As the list of people demanding security information increases we are becoming vulnerable to false claims as well as identity theft. Often these claims are for amounts under a hundred dollars - something that can not be legally challenged without costs running into a much larger loss. It is cheaper to just grudgingly pay up - rather than face the hassle of a court case and possible loss of a good credit rating.
Unfortunately, the need for security leads directly to a huge increase in security risk as we part with information that may come full circle to cause us loss !
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