Data brokers use social engineering to snag cell records
Your cellphone provider may have a detailed privacy policy that would seem to protect your calling records and other personal data from data brokers. But it looks like the data pirates have the upper hand as they've begun stooping to tactics like pretending to be handicapped customers and service provider employees, with the aim of wresting your info from gullible call-center workers. According to a suit filed by Verizon, data brokers have made thousands of calls to the company's customer service center, often posing as employees from a nonexistent "special needs" division of Verizon, which, according to the callers, was designed to help speech-impaired customers. Separately, the Federal Communications Commission endorsed Verizon's efforts, and said that the government is also investigating the issue. FCC Comissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein added that "the Commission must also take immediate steps to ensure that we have strong consumer privacy rules in place and that phone companies are employing effective safeguards to shield this data from harm." While Verizon hasn't specified how many customer records were actually disclosed, it's good to see the company going after the data thieves. However, we also hope that Verizon (and the other providers) are also stepping up training for their call-center staff, so they won't fall victim to such tactics. Oh, and Verizon: why not a "special needs" division?
[Via PhoneScoop]
