Drivers License copy

[donnaree113]

Will supplying a photocopy of a Drivers License - minus the drivers license number (it was whited-out) -- issued in United States cause possible identity theft problems? The license supplied residence address and photo.

[Nyla]

That makes it slightly harder for them to commit identity theft directly, but sending a good photocopy of your license complete with photo and name/address almost certainly guarantees that they will be reusing the scan for future scams. Many a scam target has found that their name and ID are being used to boost the authenticity of a scam.

I would be very, very wary of any suspicious postal mail or phone calls you receive, particularly if they ask for any financial or personal information. Also, watch your postal mail closely for any bank or credit card statements that don't arrive when they should. In any case, you should keep a regular watch on your credit report and an eye and ear out for anything suspicious. Having a copy of your ID is dangerous, even without the number.

Scammers often do have accomplices in the States, and one could conceivably visit the post office, show "your" altered ID, and have your postal mail redirected, to get their hands on bank statements and the like.

[Privacy-Rights-Act]

Will supplying a photocopy of a Drivers License - minus the drivers license number (it was whited-out) -- issued in United States cause possible identity theft problems? The license supplied residence address and photo.

Good question,

Unfortunately, if a theif has you full name, address and DOB, they do not need the license number, except if you state still uses SS# as license number, as many use to do.

There are thousands of personal private data companies who sell your information for billions every year, and so all one has to do is provide this basic information and I could get a complete bio on your personal assets, credit file, banks you do business with, almost your whole life is available for a price, yet did you give permission to release this data?

What people don't know is more dangerous than what they do know. People need to get educated on these identity theft issues and how vulnerable we really are in this day and age of electronic data harvesting. The only way to totally protect yourself is to educate yourself on what is happening without your permission. In fact, your personal private data can be protected, but not unless you know how.

Fight Back, Mike