My son told us the other day about how someone he was traveling with found, in her hotel room, a piece of paper with someone's name, Social Security number, and date of birth on it.
He couldn't imagine how anyone could be so dumb as to write all that down! and then leave it somewhere.
Well, first of all, the person (based on their DOB) was in their nineties. That certainly doesn't make them dumb, but for someone that age, or even MY age (49) that information didn't "used" to be as sensitive as it is now. Or, really, at all. (And 92 year old people can't remember everything, either...!)
I can remember going to college and having my SSN be my student ID. Then it was my staff ID. Your SSN was everywhere.
When I first had a checking account, in addition to ID, you had to show a credit card (for some reason). They would write the entire credit card number on the check. (!!!!!!) I guess this was extra security? I didn't have a credit card of my own (I was in high school) so my mother gave me a credit card to carry and use for that purpose (and that purpose only!!) We are, fortunately, both named "Mary Butler" so there was no trouble there.
My husband doesn't remember the latter. Maybe it was a Houston thing?
I told Brandon about these things, and he was flabbergasted. I guess identity theft happened in the past, but it surely wasn't easy, in those pre-Internet days, for the average person to accomplish it.
Every day I think what a different world it is.
Today I'm thinking about this.
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