Why is everyone so concerned about their privacy?? It is a complete joke. Anyone who really wants to, can find out anything they want to about you if they are in the right profession. I mean I get the greedy multi national corporations don't want competitors having their secrets but for the average person? I mean who gives a shit? Although I live in Canada where employers mind their own damn business and don't snoop through your life. But also, my life is just NOT that interesting and frankly, I don't give a shit who knows about it. I live my life as I choose.
So what makes it so all important to everyone that we have to have privacy laws? When I had to care for my schizophrenic mother it was a total pain in the ass until I finally got a power of attorney. Having all this privacy bullshit also annoys me no end when I have to have five thousand passwords and answer a million questions to pay a damn bill! I just don't get it.
The right to privacy is the major weapon of citizens against fascism and is the FOUNDATION stone of Roe v Wade.....try getting an abortion in a dozen states and you'll understand your right to privacy today
I am concerned about about my privacy to prevent:
My bank account being drained by hackers.
Medical information stolen.
Getting cat-fished.
My identity being stolen again.
Identify Theft, 2003
"Did you spent $827 in Fragrances at Macy's last night at 8:30 p.m.?" my credit card company called to ask at 9:00 a.m. A thief had charged a number of items using my credit card at the Fragrances counter.
"NO," I replied. The credit card manager canceled the charge, and I canceled my credit cards.
Stolen Mail
Recently my mail had been stolen from the mailbox on my porch. I found discarded mail scattered on my lawn. Obviously, the thief was using convenience checks for my account sent by the credit card company. So, I got a Post Office box.
Police Cases Numbers
Since mail fraud is a federal crime, I got a case number and detective assigned to my case from the Wenatchee police. Wound up doing this with police in 10 other cities.
Bills arrived from stores throughout Eastern Washington. I did not even open the bills. Just wrote on the back of the envelopes:
"My mail was stolen on (date). A thief is using my checks. Contact: detective name, case number, police station, city, state. The thief is using the name, Kevin L. Miller, and my address."
Thief Arrested
I am nothing if not determined. Kept careful documentation.
Walmart in Moses Lake got fed up. They hired a police officer for the check stands.
Dressed in a business suit, the thief was 30 years old. His apartment was crammed with a check-making machine, credit card making machine, a driver's license making machine, and piles of checks with the names, addresses and bank accounts of thousands of people in Eastern Washington.
Life Sentence
With two previous identify theft convictions, he got a life sentence under Washington's "Three Strikes and You're Out" law.
The police used my documentation as evidence.
If he’d at least gone to Michaels Market and Bistro in Moses Lake, he would have had good taste ... but Walmart?
Glad you got that sorted out!
I listed medical information as an privacy concern.
Who cares? Patients.
Learn about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule
You're right to a certain extent. Skip tracers and professionals can easily find you if you've not been trying to hide - I mean, there are things you can do to hide from them, I'll not go into it. But average people can't hide from professionals for very long.
You have to be pretty determined to hide for very long. We use a paid search program at work and there are people that basically disappear for years. Most people will show up with a new address within 6 months or so.