Idenity Theft This Christmas

I know ID theft is huge. $24 Million in the US and 40% of that in California.

A link on the front page The Turnpike Prank: Avoiding Tolls On The Massachusetts Turnpike remined me of another funny prank The Credit Card Prank. I read this page before and laughed it off.

This year at Staples, I have noted the signature box on the credit card machine jumbles my signature. I told one cashier I was going to sign "Fake ID." She said she did not care because she could not see it anyway, and agreed it was about time they fixed their machines. Being the at heart prankster I am, I decided who else would allow this. Mind you I am using my Costco/American Express Card which has my photo on the back in color and no signature by design, since they are SUPPOSED to ask for Driver's license to verify the signature on the sales slip. So far I have purchased over $2000 in 4 states using "Fake ID." This included two seperate clerks at a Staples I have visited only once. They know me in the local Staples, and as I said the machine scrambles the signature, but 2500 miles away?!? Also hotel in DC, Target, Resturants, all have not only verified my signature, but few actually even turned the card over! If this was a stolen card, I would have lost a ton of money.

I thanked the young lady at the store I was in for my wife yesterday. One of those scented bath stores where it was nice to have all the ladies come talk to me, but not where I like to go because of all the smells. I did the mission and hopefully the CINC will be overjoyed at my finding exactly what she put on her list. I overheard she was asking for Photo ID of the two customers in front of me and related how I marvelled she was the only one this Christmas season who asked. I then proceeded around the corner to Borders and signed my own name.

Be careful of your shopping habits this holiday.

 

one of the joys of being poor!! no credit, no credit theft. aloha

 

I can offer you a FAKE ID!

LOL