Your Personal Information Could Be Treasure For Dumpster Divers

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Posted: 1:56 PM Oct 30, 2007
Last Updated: 11:32 PM Oct 30, 2007

7 comments

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A warning today about what your bank or doctor's office may be throwing away. The State's Attorney General says your personal information could be at risk.

Investigators say they found hundreds of personal records, from drivers licenses to social security numbers and even x-rays, all in dumpsters outside businesses in four Kentucky cities, including Lexington and Frankfort.

It happened in a month's period, from July to August.

Out of the 121 businesses that were investigated, 33 of those businesses were reported to be in direct violation of the Consumer Protection Act, throwing away over 500 records of personal information, belonging to over 1250 Kentuckians.

Everything from social security numbers to personal bank account records to medical charts were found in public dumpsters.

Officials are warning for a high risk for identity theft.

Experts say you should always make sure you ask how a business destroys personal records, so you don't become a victim of identity theft.

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Posted by: c Location: fkt on Oct 31, 2007 at 08:21 AM
The question now is what is the state going to do with these businesses that violate the law! Ignore it like they do everything else? If they have the money for a business surely they have the money for a shreader! The Attorney General's office should release those names AND prosecute them for violating the law! If it was an individual, I can bet that they would be prosecuted! The Attorney General's office needs to do their job now and fine the h*ll out of those businesses!

Posted by: cat Location: ky on Oct 31, 2007 at 06:51 AM
I have one even better. Pikeville Medical Center sent me infomation that was I suppose meant for an insurance company. I received other people's name and how much they owe the hospital. I called and all they wanted was the information back. No thank you or I am so sorry. Just mail it back and we will deduct the amount of the stamp cost you. Also, I picked up some medicine at EC Drug Store this month. When I got home, I had my medicine, but someone else's medicine info. It had the person's name, doctor, and the name of the medicine. What happened to law that is suppose to stop this?

Posted by: Pamela Location: Rochester,NY on Oct 30, 2007 at 09:41 PM
There are several laws under the Federal Trade Commission that the business owner are not aware of. We as consumers need to protect our identites and have legal access incase our identities have been compromised. Information regarding identity theft and how to protect yourself, www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/morgan28

Posted by: CD Location: Lexingtin on Oct 30, 2007 at 07:44 PM
Name the buisinesses who do this so we will know.

Posted by: amc Location: lexington on Oct 30, 2007 at 03:43 PM
WHEN R WE GOING TO KNOW THE 'IDENTIY' OF THE BUSINESSES WHO HAVE DONE THIS SO WE WILL KNOW IF WE ARE IN JEOPARDY ?

Posted by: ky Location: ky on Oct 30, 2007 at 02:51 PM
this is so CRAZY how can we not be able to trust our personal info.to our workplace and you can bet that everyone whom them has a shreder and shred thereJUNKMAIL!

Posted by: Chris Location: Lexington, KY on Oct 30, 2007 at 02:20 PM
GREAT! SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT AS IF WE DON;T AHVE ENOUGH.

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