Employment

Timothy J. Muris, Chair
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580

Dear Chairman Muris:

Rex retired from the Army in 1999. In July of last year, someone was able to get a military ID from Fort Bragg with his name and Social Security number. Using that ID and Rex's good credit history, that person was able to buy cars, motorcycles and open credit card and checking accounts.

Priscilla was seeking a promotion in her county job. She was asked to sign a waiver allowing the personnel department to conduct a background check. She felt the waiver was far too broad. This is an excerpt:

In 1973 the U.S. Dept of Health Education and Welfare (HEW) to look at the impact of computerization on medical records privacy. The members wanted to develop policies that would allow the benefits of computerization to go forward, but at the same time provide safeguards for personal privacy.

Sally's home was badly damaged in an earthquake. She had to vacate it so that repairs could be made. The phone company was unable to find her new address in order to mail the final bill and eventually sent her bill to their collection department.

The Sacramento Police Department called Frida to tell her that someone made a fake driver's license using her name. A large drugstore chain had tossed old job applicants into the trash without shredding them. Someone found and used them to made fake IDs.