LifeBlocked
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Internet-y as the next blogger, I’d like to point out how wired.com noticed that the Phoenix New Times figured out that LifeLock CEO Todd Davis (you know, Mr. 457-55-5462) who dares criminals to steal his identity has, in fact had his identity stolen at least 13 times. But in a repudiation of the Internet tendency to simply point at the findings of others and say “like he said, ” I’ll now explain how the identity thieves got away with it. Given that, as you know, LifeLock is “guaranteed. ”
What LifeLock does primarily when you subscribe is they put a fraud alert on your file at all three national credit monitoring agencies — Equifax, Experian, and Trans-Union. A fraud alert says “this person’s identity has been stolen, don’t approve any unusual expenditures without proper verification. ” So the cable bill you’ve been paying with a credit card for five years still goes through but any new request for credit or an unusual expenditure gets flagged. The problem with this is that the fraud alert isn’t real; there has been no fraud. You only signed-up with LifeLock, which is now screaming at the credit bureaus that you’ve been ripped-off when, in fact, you haven’t.
Credit bureaus hate LifeLock.
A fraud alert is like putting a chastity belt on your credit file, with the keys held only by three cranky eunuchs.
But wait, Todd Davis (Mr. 457-55-5462) was ripped-off 13 times despite being a member of LifeLock. With an fraud alert on his file, how was this even possible?
Because the frauds didn’t involve his credit file.
Worse still, Mr. 457-55-5462, didn’t even know his identity had been stolen 13 times, despite his LifeLock membership, until the bill collectors started calling. Maybe he should have applied for that $1 million insurance pay-off.
Oops. “Certain conditions apply.”
What happened to Mr. 457-44-5462 had nothing to do with the three national credit monitoring agencies and everything to do with the National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE), a service managed by Equifax but completely separate from that company’s credit operation. The NCTUE is a sort of in-house credit-monitoring operation aimed solely at telephone, cable TV, gas, and electric customers. NCTUE came about because utilities and telcos have different needs than do banks or mortgage companies. Utilities specifically have lots of cash customers, their greatest exposure is to lost payment for a month or two of service, so they don’t really give a damn whether you are an illegal alien or not. All the NCTUE and its members’ care about is that you have an ID and a social security number, even if that number is borrowed. And, of course, they’d like you to pay your bill on time, please.
The NCTUE does a far superior job of monitoring creditworthiness than the bureaus if credit information is available given that it allows any of us to have multiple identities and thousands of people to share the same Social Security Number as long as they pay their bills.
LifeLock doesn’t have access to the NCTUE database so Mr. 457-44-5462 had no way of knowing that his identity had been used or is currently being used. The violations mainly involved Telco and utility accounts and none were for more than $1000. Furthermore often NCTUE is used as a stepping stone for creating false IDs in your actual credit file – but that can wait for another blog.
It turns out there are hundreds of such alternative databases, with the NCTUE being just the largest, and LifeLock doesn’t have access to any of them.
NCTUE is interesting not just because it is invisible to LifeLock but also because it isn’t (nor is it required to be) compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) which allows you to, for example, see your credit report for free if you’ve had a denial of credit and to contest any information you think is in error on the report.
Actually NCTUE is voluntarily FCRA compliant as far as it can be given the apples-and-oranges difference between what it does and what the credit bureaus do. If you work hard enough you can obtain a copy of your current file history and they will address and resolve issues.
NCTUE is currently in the middle of multi-year expansion that may actually eclipse the number of consumers in the credit file. Remember everyone has a cell phone even if they do not have a credit file or legal status to be in the USA.
Bummer for Lifelock, which has no access to this information.
Your NCTUE file today contains only negative information, by the way, because it isn’t a true credit rating. But it can still be used to steal your identity.
Just ask Mr. 457-55-5462.
Well I just discovered this site on Bing for the first time today. I really think your site is good with excellent articles. Many thanks for the good read. Will add to my Bookmarks.
Much obliged for giving us some savvy ideas on this topic. I have discovered a great variety of good suggestions about natural health and some unreliable information. Do you have any more honest suggestions or places on the Internet that I can find more detailed recommendations? This would be much appreciated! Either way, continue the good work!
I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I’ve bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.
helped me a lot!
Don’t think its wise to do that…. but go for it if you want!
I’ve bookmarked, Dugg, and I joined the RSS subscription. Thanks!
I think this is wonderful I truly appreciate the infos shared in this spot I am going to bookmark this! Good Write-up, Each and every Office is good Sufficient. Thanks for sharing with us your Wisdom of Solomon. You got a surely useful blog I be having been here registering exchange for upon an hour . I am a fledgeling and your ascendancy is deeply much an fire for me.
good thanks \o/
Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
good (article|information) thanks
Thanks for the cool information, I really love to spend time here going through these posts
jumbo log you’ve hog
I changed technicians for the reason that after a few years of Intense pulsed light, I figured the results weren’t worth their expense. Then I got the silk’n hair removal. They warranty that after eighteen months if hair grows back again, the treatments are free. They have got both fractional laser and also Intense pulsed light, but I am planning to stay with lazer now as Ipl didn’t appear to reduce the amount of hair coming back.
I had been performing home laser hair treatments for over a year now on my mustache. Before this I had quite a thicker dark beard. I’m happy with the final results. The hairs are really thin and I haven’t gone back for re-application for about 6 months. Let me mention that it did feel painful just a bit on my upper lip and there were instances when I had a little bit of redness on my neck. I suggest Intense pulsed light to people having thick hairs or have large sections of hair they need to eliminate. For the males that might like to do their tough facial beard be prepard for spots within the following months’ time and a lot of people saying dude whats up with your beard.
If you’re still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you’ll know which is right for you.
Nwnunrwbkrzqa nj-solar KcykufdkdgfuwEkiyneoecmtcw
This is such a amazing site you have. I have bookmarked it, and will return many times. Your website has been a great guide. Thanks.
I’d just like to let you know how much I learn from your writtings Dugg it.Hope 2 be back soon for some more goodies
Hello man did you’r had other links ? I like letter improve pro my dad … ..
brand-new heard of the revolutionary Kinect? Its actually awesome! I never had so much fun playing gaming system before, eventhough I could call myself a hardcore player of which usually plays video games like Call of Duty etc. The Kinect is so different than other things I have ever played before. the actual motion controles perform really well, and plus, but not required to use a controller that can be played is the personification associated with freedom! No annoying button smashing any longer, a single word will do! You should think about getting the Kinect!.
Danke for moving me to go look up my own investigation. Yours was way more wide-ranging than mine.
I feel your shame. I never had any good luck with this stuff, either. So glad to find out I am not by myself!
Epic. It’s so sad more folks don’t know about this site, it covered exactly what I needed XD
I was trying to find more information on I, Cringely » Blog Archive » LifeBlocked – Cringely on technology on Dogpile and this site was the first site I saw about it. Thanks for your opinion and now I know where to look for good stuff in the future
very good \o/
keep up this good work. Excellent post
This is a smart blog. I mean it. You have so much knowledge about this issue, and so much passion. You also know how to make people rally behind it, obviously from the responses. Youve got a design here thats not too flashy, but makes a statement as big as what youre saying. Great job, indeed.keep up this good work. Excellent post
Hostgator Black Friday 2010 Special Offer: (80% off everything)50% OFF EVERYTHING From 12:00AM CST – 5AM CST – Coupon Code : blackfriday50off,80% OFF EVERYTHING From 5AM – 9AM CST – Coupon Code : blackfriday80off,50% OFF EVERYTHING From 9AM – 11:59PM CST - Coupon Code : blackfriday50off
Any of you guys follow GSL Season 3 news? As the Ro32 moved from half to three quarters complete interesting matchups for the next round began to be set. The only non-Korean Asian player, BlizzCon runnerup Yi ‘Loner’ Dai, moved on to a potential matchup with SlayerSBoxeR in the Ro16. Jae-Duck ‘NesTea’ Lim and Sang Ik ‘TheWind’ Park progressed to a match between themselves in the next round. Starcraft 2
fine post
Rates of interest vary from week to week as a result check using your lender on the top deals they already have
Rates of interest vary from week to week as a result check using your lender on the top deals they already have
Great post thanks, like your blog layout too. Is it WP ?
So very super happy my computer found a way to read this post. FInding this is a joy to all that find it. I will continue to make my way to this website in the future.I sincerly regretfor my writing skills.
Hope this never happens to me. Thanks for the post.
this is one of the best reads I’ve had n a while, i will be sure to recommend this to a couple of people, great job
So very super happy my computer found a way to read this post. FInding this is a joy to all that find it. I will continue to make my way to this website in the future.I sincerly regretfor my writing skills..
This is a very informative story! I am so glad I checked your article. Keep up the extrordinary work. Have a excellent day!mail forwarding
Hello, I’m sorry for the off-topic question but could you perhaps tell me where to find this blog template? I’d love to find the same website theme or perhaps one that is similar to yours. Can you say where it is from?
Designed with unique features that you won’t find on ordinary beats by dr dre pro detox with the Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones you not only get incredible sound, but advanced, useful function to make your listening experience the best it can be. With advanced speaker design, powered amplification, and active noise canceling, the headphones delivers all the power, clarity and deep bass today’s top artists and producers want you to hear.
beats in ear headphones…
[...]I, Cringely » Blog Archive » LifeBlocked – Cringely on technology[...]…
All of the photograph, images, pictures, photos, articles, reviews of both – All about photography
Absolutely indited content material , Genuinely enjoyed searching at .
hair transplant…
[...]I, Cringely » Blog Archive » LifeBlocked – Cringely on technology[...]…