Fergie's Tech Blog

Good Cybercitizens Keep Watch Over ID-Theft Victims

Jon Swartz writes on USA Today:

For a few hours a day, Steven Peisner calls strangers across the USA — sometimes at night — and reads to them their Social Security numbers and credit card data.

Though many recipients immediately suspect he is an ID thief, Peisner's intent is just the opposite: He is a digital whistle-blower.

"My motivation is to be a good citizen and put a dent in (fraudulent e-mail) phishing scams," says Peisner, president of SellitSafe.com, which provides anti-phishing services for online merchants. He works closely with law enforcement and computer-security experts. Peisner, 43, is one of several avenging angels nationwide looking out for the well-being of ID-theft victims. They share a fervent desire to publicize the widespread availability of stolen personal data on the Internet.

posted by Fergie @ 9/27/2006 07:09:00 PM