mayo@wrl.dec.com (Bob Mayo) (01/30/91)
Pardon me if this has been discussed before -- I just stumbled onto this group. In order to enforce a degree of privacy in consumer transactions (such as credit card purchases, magazine subscriptions, and the like), I'd like to establish a separate identity. The main purpose of this would be to thwart the production of a lifestyle profile based upon my consumer purchases. Two general areas of questions come up: Mechanics: How hard is it to set this up? My separate identity, Joe Anonymous, couldn't get a credit card without lying, but he might be able to get a debit VISA card backed by a cash deposit. By registering Joe Anonymous as a business with the county (a $30 or less proposition), Joe could get his own bank account for checks and ATM cards. Sure, the correlation between Joe Anonymous and myself would be in the public record, but I doubt anybody would bother to check unless Joe started doing something illegal or annoying. Legality: Are there any laws that make establishing a separate identity illegal? Of course Joe would have to steer clear of any sort of lying on credit applications and such. But if I tell Safeway or Radio Shack that my name is Joe Anonymous, can I run into any problems? What happens if Joe signs legal contracts like car rental agreements? What if Joe purchases a plane ticket and then needs a refund. The only ID would be a document showing that Joe Anonymous was a business. Hmmm... --Bob (my real name)
jet@karazm.math.uh.edu ("J. Eric Townsend") (01/31/91)
In article <1991Jan30.040343.8882@pa.dec.com> mayo@wrl.dec.com (Bob Mayo) writes: >Mechanics: How hard is it to set this up? My separate identity, Joe The fact that the "establishment" requires a SSN for virtually everything makes it more difficult these days. I dunno what happens if you come up with a SSN that won't be used for some time. Go to your local post office and get a PO Box. Better yet, get a box at one of those "postal drop" places. Start using name "x", but pay for things with money orders. You'd be amazed at the things you can get from people in any ol' name. This *used* to be popular, dunno how good it still is: find a courthouse that burned (happens once or twice a year these days, was more common in the 40s - 60s). Write then for a copy of your birth certificate (varies from state to state on what you need to do this), using the postal drop address. If you've got a certificate, you're on your way. Check out various Lampoonics books, but take them with a grain of salt. >Legality: Are there any laws that make establishing a separate identity >illegal? Godwin will know this better than I for nat'l stuff, but Louisiana allowed you to call yourself just about anything as long as you weren't attempting to defraud anybody else, or break any laws (like evading your taxes). -- J. Eric Townsend - jet@uh.edu - bitnet: jet@UHOU - vox: (713) 749-2120 "It is the cunning of form to veil itself continually in the evidence of content. It is the cunning of the code to veil itself and to produce itself in the obviousness of value." -- Baudrillard
campbell@redsox.bsw.com (Larry Campbell) (01/31/91)
In Massachusetts, anyway, I know that you can use any name you want (God, Saddam Hussein, Malcolm X) as long as there is *no intent to defraud*. In other words, as long as Joe Anonymous pays his bills, it's all legal. -- Larry Campbell The Boston Software Works, Inc., 120 Fulton Street campbell@redsox.bsw.com Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (USA) -- A gentleman never hurts anyone's feelings accidentally. -Oscar Wilde
johne@hp-vcd.HP.COM (John Eaton) (02/01/91)
<<<< < Mechanics: How hard is it to set this up? ---------- Its real easy to start giving out phoney names, you want to use several or else the marketing networks will simply profile your alias and target that. The key is to flood them with random noise. Setting up a financial account with an alias is venturing into a dangerous area with perhaps no reason. I doubt if they would even notice that the check you sent has a different name than the person they billed. I know you can get checks printed without your address and phone number preprinted so one solution would be to get a set that also left off your name. They should work as well as the starter check set you get when you open an account. John Eaton !hp-vcd!johne
minar@reed.bitnet (Nelson Minar,L08,x640,7776519) (02/01/91)
In article <1991Jan31.030411.1370@lavaca.uh.edu> jet@karazm.math.uh.edu ("J. Eric Townsend") writes: (hi eric, remember me? John O. introduced me to you once.. :) ) >In article <1991Jan30.040343.8882@pa.dec.com> mayo@wrl.dec.com (Bob Mayo) writes: >>Mechanics: How hard is it to set this up? My separate identity, Joe >The fact that the "establishment" requires a SSN for virtually everything >makes it more difficult these days. I dunno what happens if you come >up with a SSN that won't be used for some time. Legally, very few institutions (the IRS, Social Security, and Selective Service are the ones I know of) can demand an SSN. Banks might be able to require an SSN claiming IRS reasons. But in general, if someone asks for an SSN you can refuse and they will have to find an alternative. Its up to you to decide if its worth the trouble.. >This *used* to be popular, dunno how good it still is: find a courthouse >that burned (happens once or twice a year these days, was more common in the >40s - 60s). This is similar to the "find someone who died at birth and get their birth certificate then get a drivers license in another state" scam. It doesn't work very well now - too many computer records. Its worth a shot. >Check out various Lampoonics books, but take them with a grain of salt. The one titled "Privacy" is interesting reading.
dwp@willett.pgh.pa.us (Doug Philips) (02/06/91)
> Mechanics: How hard is it to set this up? My separate identity, Joe > Anonymous, couldn't get a credit card without lying, but he might be > able to get a debit VISA card backed by a cash deposit. By > registering Joe Anonymous as a business with the county (a $30 or less > proposition), Joe could get his own bank account for checks and ATM > cards. Sure, the correlation between Joe Anonymous and myself would be > in the public record, but I doubt anybody would bother to check unless Joe > started doing something illegal or annoying. > > Legality: Are there any laws that make establishing a separate identity > illegal? Of course Joe would have to steer clear of any sort of lying on > credit applications and such. But if I tell Safeway or Radio Shack that > my name is Joe Anonymous, can I run into any problems? What happens if > Joe signs legal contracts like car rental agreements? What if Joe purchases > a plane ticket and then needs a refund. The only ID would be a document > showing that Joe Anonymous was a business. Hmmm... As you have already heard, some places allow you to use any name you want so long as you aren't attempting criminal activity. This doesn't prevent people from taking advantage of the ignorance of this (in particular the scams that charge a modest fee for having your maiden name changed when you get married, etc.). What I want to know is where to go to find out if State <X> has some particular laws regarding this. Setting up Business checking accounts, etc. is a more expensive prospect that should be avoided when possible. BTW: I have never needed more than a receipt in order to get a refund. One might imagine that you could tell the clerk (call ahead if you're worried) that you are there on that person's behalf. Of course, one is often "required" to show ID if purchasing via check or credit card. Cash/C.O.D./Money orders are ways around that. I'm sure there are others. I know these subjects are annual/semi- annual/weekly topics of discussion on the net. Does anyone know where, if anyplace, such things are archived? Is there a regular posted message in some group(s) or other? Thanks in advance, Doug --- Preferred: dwp@willett.pgh.pa.us Ok: {pitt,sei,uunet}!willett!dwp