Re: Public Service Announcement (fwd)
John H. Phillips III (phillips@library.ucsf.edu)
Tue, 24 Sep 1996 08:23:12 -0700
I just called Social Security, and P-Trax cannot require you to give them
your Social security number, nor should they have it in record unless you
have previously given it to them voluntarily.
At 11:05 AM 9/23/96 -0700, you wrote:
>> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> >Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 07:05:41 +0000
>> >From: Varna Ramaswamy <vramaswa@nature.snr.uvm.edu>
>> >To: SNR_GRADS <SNR_GRADS@trillium.uvm.edu>
>> >Subject: (Fwd) Pls take action and distribute to friends
>> >
>> >This was a message sent to me by my uncle that deals with your
>> >private information being easily accessible to the public.
>> >
>> >Varna
>> >
>> >FYI (sent to me by one of our attorneys):
>> >
>> >
>> >Your name, social security number, current address, previous
>> >addresses, mother's maiden name, birth date and other personal
>> >information are now available to anyone with a credit card through a
>> >new Lexis database called P-Trax. As I am sure you are aware, this
>> >information could be used to commit credit card fraud or otherwise allow
>> >someone else to use your identity.
>> >
>> >You can have your name and information removed from this list by
>> >making a telephone request. Call (800)543-6862, select option 4 and
>> >then option 3 ("all other questions") and tell the representative
>answering
>> >that you wish to remove your name from the P-trax database. You may
>> >also send a fax to (513) 865-7360, or physical mail to LEXIS-NEXIS /
>P.O.
>> >Box 933 / Dayton, Ohio 45401-0933. Sending physical mail to confirm
>> >your name has been removed is always a good idea.
>> >
>> >As word of the existence of this database has spread on the net,
>> >Lexis-Nexis has been inundated with calls, and has set up a special set
>> >of operators to handle the volume. In addition, Andrew Bleh (rhymes
>> >with "Play") is a manager responsible for this product, and is the
>person
>> >to whom complaints about the service could be directed. He can be
>> >reached at the above 800 number. Ask for extension 3385. According
>> >to Lexis, the manager responsible is Bill Fister at extension 1364.
>> >
>> >I called this morning and had my name removed. The representative will
>> >need your name and social security number to remove you from the list.
>I
>> >suggest that we inundate these people with requests to remove our info
>> >from the list and forward this e-mail to everyone we know.
>> >
>> >
>> >Varna M. Ramaswamy
>> >Vermont Tourism Data Center
>> >361 Aiken Center
>> >University of Vermont
>> >Burlington, VT 05405
>> >
>> >(802) 656-0623 (W)
>> >(802) 388-9744 (H)
>
>Hi Everyone--
>
>I'm sorry to clog the newsgroup with this public service announcement, but
>because I find this service absolutely reprehensible, I thought it was
>important enough to post. I called the 800 number, and they're no longer
>taking phone requests. The options open to you are snail mail, fax and
>e-mail. Their e-mail address is: p-trak@prod.lexis-nexis.com. Include
>your name, address, phone, SS#. You might want to call the free 800
>number to get a rundown of what exactly their service provides to ANYONE
>wanting info about YOU. If enough people have their names removed, maybe
>we can render their database completely useless--wouldn't THAT be swell!
>
>Gary
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
John H. Phillips III e-mail:phillips@library.ucsf.edu
Interlibrary Loan Rm 202
Health Sciences Library
University of California
530 Parnassus Ave
San Francisco, CA 94143-0840
PH: (415) 476-8383
FAX: (415) 476-7940