I saw it too, dcarch, and was shocked. I don't think there is any way to avoid this trap - at least, I didn't see that addressed in the show.

It isn't just copies we make ourselves, but copies made for us by tax preparers, medical offices, banks, etc. - every copy ever made. Even if they do make a fix for new machines, all the old machines that already have our info on them will not be affected. It could be a HUGE problem.

Good Lord, is NOTHING private anymore? It's no wonder we now have to deal with "identity theft".

Linda

Anyone who stole my identity would give it back.

If you must copy using outside copying service, Perhaps you should try the following:

Fold all your documents in half, copy only half your documents, then go to another copier and copy the other half and splice them together.

This way only half of your information is in the hard drive in each location and will discourage others to try to do things with them.

dcarch

Frankly, I don't know if that will work, dcarch, as most forms have all the info in a small area of the form, and the library where I make my copies has only one copier. How can you break up a sensitive five or six digit number and put it back together again?

Plus, millions of copies of our stuff are made that we don't even know about in banks, in hospitals and doctor's offices, accountants, universities, etc. that they keep for their own files. And how could one submit a "spliced" or stapled document, such as a tax form?

Here is the theory:

No, it is not a perfect system, not at all, but it will help if you don't have any other way to make copies.

A crook will have to look at hundreds of thousands of copies to decide which ones to work on, he/she will not waste time on only half of a copy.

The other way to avoid using ouitside copiers is to take digital photos with your own camera and print it out with your printer.

dcarch

OK, but what about all the copies made by others for THEIR files, on their copiers? I've given my insurance cards to docs and hospitals, my social security card to my employer who copied it, had my accountant give me copies of the tax forms they prepared for me, submitted financial aid documents that were copied and used by universities, receive copies of my securities accounts every month, ....the list goes on. We have absolutely no control over copies made by others for their records, on their machines, often a few times removed from ourselves.

Barnmom LOL!
I use my old scanner which is fine for making bl/wh or colour copies of all documents that I have to hand in to an outside agency. The scan goes directly to the printers so it's not necessary to use a camera. And I usually go with a folder full of such scans I've made when I know ahead than an office will need them, so they'll use mine rather than make their own.
Of course I would never know if they rescanned or photocopied them again in their office.

SharonCb

Great. Reminds me that I need to go check my credit report and see if anyone is attempting to use my name. I've had my ID stolen and there have been attempts to obtain credit in the past. US passport office up an kept my birth certificate so it wouldn't surprise me if someone has my name again. Two years ago the Indiana State Police informed me they had my truck... only to claim it was all a mistake... wtf? All I know is I live in Michigan, have not been to Indiana in many years, and my truck is in my garage.

LOL... I wrote a check to Kinko's when I was in school and my dad thought I was buying sex toys.

: )
lyra

Kink-os! Hee, hee.

Michael/Lyra, that's funny. My Dad would have thought the same thing. (grin)

Eileen, I told my stepmother that no one would ever steal our identities, because no one wants to be us!

Annie

Now I don't know, but I would LIKE to think that a company like Kinko's, whose bread and butter is making copies, would take appropriate safety measures rather than risk a scandal.

I'm guessing the bigger risk, as mentioned above, is doctor's offices, financial institutions, insurance companies, lawyers, accountants, etc. who love to copy files and lease their equipment from who knows where. Not much we can do about that though is there.

(Kinko's for sex toys, now that's funny!)

Scary times indeed. It might be funny to say nobody wants to be us etc., but the truth is...for anyone who has a decent credit score and open accounts of any type, credit card, banks etc. are at risk. It really sucks that regular good people like us who work hard and try to do what is right can have it all crash down on us when people who live to prey on others can live the high life on our dime, never be brought to trial or prosecution and in most cases never even sought after! Why not live a life of cyber crime! Hell....you can get away with it! The card companies would rather write it off...and thus increasing our fees and interest rates. It truly is the disgrace of our digital age. They say most of the perpetrators are overseas and they can't prosecute if they could find them. Bullcrap!!!!!!!!!!

The government has satellites fixed on most of us. If they wanted to find these people they would. I guess I'm going off on a conspiracy tangent now with no proof. But there is something very fishy going on with all of this. Anytime big money is made at the expense of people who are helpless in any defense to recoup the money....something big is going on behind the scenes.

Duane

Satellites schmatellites. Find Bin Laden and I'll put worrying about satellites tracking me on my ten-year to-do list. Sadly, I just can't believe I'm all that interesting to watch.

I'm pretty sure the satellites are too busy tracking really important stuff like which celebrity is having whose baby to ever find Bin Laden....

OK, I MAY be slightly cynical.
I keep hoping somebody will steal my identity........I'll just start over.
"Debt Be Gone!"

Hee hee........just being a smart A$$, of course.

It is frustrating.
Deanna