Can someone steal your identity, by your name + address + date-of-birth? I had to fill in this information at a gun range, and I think this is too much. If someone copies my name, address, and date-of-birth, can they open credit cards, bank accounts, and buy things in my name? Is this enough information for an identity theft? Thanks.
They would usually need your SSN to open credit accounts and the info would need to align with your credit history in the US, but I suppose it is theoretically possible. That information is readily available anyway online. That sort of ID theft is more likely to come from someone you know, usually within your household or family. The more likely scenario is for someone to steal an existing account info and do a quick drive-by theft on the account. In Europe, I have no clue how it works though.
In my country (europe)... You must be present at the bank to open a bank account. And when you're there, they demand that you show your ID. They make a copy of it and you get asked to write your autograph on some digital plate. But if you get hold of my ATM-card, the 4 number code on it,... than you get full control. You can loan from the bank in my name, get my savings account or play the stocks in my name, to even ensure your house with my money. All by just sitting behind any computer with internet. No questions asked. And yeah. People can copy ATM-cards while spy on your 4 number code... when using a rigged ATM-machine. It's up to me to spot if something like that happens, to than inform the bank and police. My ID, autograph and even name.... are never used. That is just paperwork from the backward days. In most cases ID-theft is just using somebodies picture and name on facebook or something. Or make a tweet account with your name. I know a real prankster who used to make hotmail accounts with the name of his friends to than e-mail others that they saw such a so got arrested for pooping on a sidewalk or something.
My understanding is that your liability for fraudulent debt can be limited to a very small amount (I think $50, but I can't find anything confirming that) as long as you report the fraudulent debt as soon as you notice it. Your name, address and DOB is a matter of public record in any case You can try to live "off the grid" but you'll have to give up driving, owning a car, and, almost certainly, using a computer. You might use some very expensive and possibly illegal methods of disguising or hiding these but why? You really shouldn't be buying so much stuff that you can't keep track of it all and if you do keep track of it and follow the procedures you'll generally be all right. There are, of course, services to help you with this, but I would peruse this before paying for anything.
Be your own bank. Banks are absolutely horrendous at performing the function most people want from them: to hold their money securely and over time.
I'm not stuffing my 90.000 euro in some sock and hide it in my house. It's more likely my house burns down or get robbed, than I loose my money through some cyber attack. Besides that, when a cyber attack happens, and I did my thing to protect my money, than my bank is responsible and repays me what they failed to protect. Besides that. If you totally mistrust banks, than thats your problem. At best split your money over multiple banks. I'll do that when I hit 100.000 euro. Since that is the max amount my government is willing to repay me when the bank goes bust.
