It Was Almost Like I Was Raped
Only virtual world oldbies will remember the controversial article “A Rape In Cyberspace“, where Julian Dibbell writes about someone describing graphic scenes in a chat room. Some sympathized, some did not, and it was all debatable.
I bring it up again because I came across another use of the word “rape” not actually involving being in the same room as someone else. As I was wrapping things up with my Pre-Paid Legal virtual experiment, I was discussing findings with Gary Burnett (he’s a Small Business & Group Benefits Specialist with them). As we probed the legal issues of virtual spaces he forwarded me an article from The Edmonton Journal entitled “It was almost like I was raped“. It covers a moment at a Wal-Mart register with a full cart of groceries, an emptied account, and drained credit cards. It got much, much worse from there.
Here’s an excerpt:
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Paziuk was frantic as she dialed her husband from the Wal-Mart parking lot that crisp April day. Four months earlier, her wallet had been stolen from her car and she had cancelled her credit card, ordered a new driver’s licence and considered the problem solved.
‘DIDN’T SEEM REAL’ “It didn’t seem real,” she says now. “I think it would have been easier to walk into my house and have it cleaned out — then at least I’d know what to do. I just remember crying a lot and thinking why? Why did this happen to me?” University of Alberta researcher Jessica Van Vliet says Paziuk’s response is common. She is conducting one of Canada’s first in-depth studies into the effects of identity theft on victims, and her early findings suggest the psychological consequences can be profound. “Anger is a really big theme, and a sense of terrible injustice,” Van Vliet says. Some victims never learn how the offender got their information, and most live in fear that someone, somewhere still has it. “It really can shake people’s trust in the world, in the system, and it isn’t just the fact that the perpetrator has stolen their identity. Victims can also feel frustrated and powerless as they try to restore their credibility.” Unravelling the fraud and regaining her financial reputation became Paziuk’s full-time job. |
This phenomena is increasingly common. In 2008 more than 10,000 Canadians fell victim to identity theft. I couldn’t find current American statistics, but in 2005 the number was sitting at 10 Million people a year and 3.7% of Americans were victims of identity fraud in 2006 (that’s roughly 11 Million people). It’s not getting any better.
It takes months and months to set things right after your identity has been stolen, and can cost you thousands. It’s not just a bunch of tedious paperwork either: it’s countless arguments you get to have with various bureaucrats about you being you, instead of someone else trying to steal your identity.
So, what does the reporter recommend? Use cash as often as possible.
Ok. That’s what we’ll do. Where do I mail my envelope of cash to pay for my online purchase? Oh, wait…
Paranoia isn’t a solution either. These people who recommend changing passwords often enough to forget them and hours of checking one’s own credit, etc… forget it. I won’t live in fear.
The only real solution is to have an Identity Shield system in place. If it happens, call one number, get help getting your life back, and get everything locked down. If people know your name online (real or not), it’s a basic essential. Social networking is great, but how many different companies and Web 2.0 apps have you trusted your information to? How many of them have an email of yours that you also use with Paypal or the hosting company that handles your website? How many of them do you use the same password with?
So I’m not saying that “identity theft = rape”, obviously, and I’m not saying “be afraid”. What I am saying is that prevention plans are out there, they’re cheap, and they’re essential. I’m including Gary’s info here, give him a call and get yourself covered: 1-888-892-3568 or email ppl@cogeco.ca
Oh, I should probably mention: no this is not a paid ad or product endorsement.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
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