Released: December 28, 2006

Stop pretexters before they get your phone records

Source: Pamela Yip [Boston Globe] (Free Registration)

Identity theft has many facets, and the latest is called “telephone pretexting.”

That occurs when someone calls you or a company you do business with and, on a pretext, tries to obtain your personal information.

Pretexting came into the spotlight during the scandal over Hewlett-Packard Co.’s attempts to stanch boardroom leaks. The company acknowledged hiring private investigators to acquire the phone records of company directors, journalists, and others.

Most people will never be involved in such high-level skullduggery, but everyone needs to be aware of the threat that pretexting poses to their finances and privacy.

Pretexters may sell your data to crooks who may use it to get credit in your name or steal from your bank account.

That’s the classic identity theft scenario . But often there are more insidious motives behind pretexting.

The information is frequently used by data brokers, private investigators, loan collectors, or individuals involved in private disputes who are looking for specific information about a person.

Federal officials say they don’t know how extensive pretexting is.

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