Cell Phones Latest Target Of Identity Thieves

Indiana's 14WFIE, has an eye-opening article on how cell phones have become a target for identity thieves, thanks to companies like Locatell.com, whose business is to trace calls for a fee.

"With a name, address, and phone number companies like Locatell.com will track down dates, times, and lengths of your personal cell phone calls, a tool often used by police to solve crimes.

Dan Klau a privacy attorney, says that usage of the technology is regaled primarily for governmental use. "There are circumstances where its appropriate for the government to get that information," says Klau.

Cell phone records are now earning big bucks for online data brokers. "Customers and carriers both are victims of this kind of theft," says Klau.

... Verizon Wireless got a court order preventing a Tennessee company from selling records and earlier this summer. New York Senator Charles Schumer introduced legislation that would make this practice illegal under federal law.

Sen. Schumer says, "The biggest problem: It's not a crime, if you can believe that." The current law is too narrow, and while it outlaws pre-texting to get financial data, it does not include cell phone logs," says Sen. Schumer."

emily | 9:15 AM | Spam, Viruses and Hoaxes |
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