1. You cannot travel via commercial airlines without showing your driver’s license.
FALSE.
Use your passport. In fact, with the sole exceptions of renting a car or being pulled over in a traffic stop, you should never show your driver's license to anyone, because it shows your address and sometimes even your Social Security number.
2. If you decide to change your name, you must do so with a legal name change.
FALSE.
As long as fraud is not involved, you are free to use any name you like. Many actors use a stage name, and some writers use as many as half a dozen different names.
3. The most secure way to receive mail is by using a home mailbox that requires a key to open it.
FALSE.
Never receive any mail at home. Theft of mail can result in having your identity stolen. Further, why not keep your home address private, as do many European businessmen? Receive your mail at a P.O. box and package deliveries at some alternative address.
4. When you purchase a vehicle, list only an initial and then your last name.
FALSE.
DMVs sell this information to others—often including private investigators--and allow police access. Title your vehicles in the name of a New Mexico limited liability company. Use a faraway mailing address.
5. When you order a pizza to be delivered, use a name different than your own.
FALSE.
Never order pizza to be delivered to your home. Pizza places give out information to anyone who calls. For example, suppose a man wishing to do you harm has obtained your unlisted telephone number but does not know your address. He calls every pizza place in the city, ordering a pizza and giving out your telephone number. In answer, he hears: "Are you still at number so-and-so on Maple street?" Bingo! (He then calls back a few minutes later and cancels the order.)
NOTE TO READERS: Please forward this information on to your friends!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Five myths about personal privacy
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I have pizza delivered all the time. I always use the same fake name and fake phone number (that I don’t use for anything else). I pay cash and tip well, and have never had a problem.
ReplyDeleteI think you need to differentiate between *using* a new name and *changing* your name. As you said, you can use any name you like, provided there is no intent to defraud. However, attempting to use another name to get any kind of official ID (DL, passport, etc.) almost always requires official paperwork indicating that the "legal" name change process has occurred.
ReplyDeleteUsing a false name and false telephone number is not a protection against someone who already knows the address.
ReplyDeleteThere are three pieces of information in this puzzle - (1) the Customer's name, (2) Number, and (3) Address.
The pizza place could be tricked into giving the name and/or telephone number used at a given address. Aliases rarely have enough backstopping to withstand intense investigation.
It could be that the Subject's address is found somewhere else (or the Subject is followed to a certain address...) and the person calling the pizza joint only wants to confirm the information found - or tie off loose ends. A false name/number is a loose end that requires further investigation.