4 ms·

I think the eagerness of US banks to offer credit is a big part of the problem. Having people endebted is an essential part of the system of wealth transfer and

I think the eagerness of US banks to offer credit is a big part of the problem. Having people endebted is an essential part of the system of wealth transfer and class control, and the system is set up to make this really easy. In the Netherlands, where I live, it might also be possible to obtain a fake id if someone would go through the length this impersonator went through, but I think it would be much harder to open bank accounts and get meaningful credit without questions being asked. What I do not understand is why victims of this have not sued their banks over this yet. Suing should be the US couterbalance to this. People are innocent victims of fraudulent behaviour of their banks, and those banks are being robbed by thieves. Banks are supposed to guard their customers' money, which in this case they are clearly not doing. Maybe they do it unknowingly, or they are incompetent, but in the end those banks are behaving fraudulently too.

roel_v 9y ago
While not a bank account, let's not be smug about our country: http://m.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/article/24095858/man-in-problemen-door-identiteitsdiefstal http://m.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/article/24095858/man-in-pro... . (For the non Dutch speakers, Amsterdam guy had several houses rented in his name, some of which were used for mj plantations, and various other expenses incurred in gis name). Identity theft is not just because of ssn or other unique semi secret numbers. It's part of it, yes, but the root cause is a combination of culture and lack of inventive (ie, identity theft is just not a big enough problem for actors to care).
jackskell 9y ago
Or, they have relinquished their ability to legal redress in court AS A CONDITION of doing business with them, agreeing to arbitration.
- defined 9y ago
  This is a HUGE issue in the USA, one which, apparently, too few people know about, or take seriously. More and more companies are insisting on customers signing binding arbitration clauses as a condition of doing business: car dealers, banks, airlines, you mention it. It's all very well to say, well, don't do business with them, when all the competition are doing the exact same thing. If you need, say, a new car, well, good luck getting one without signing most of your rights away, and this is no exaggeration. Binding mandatory arbitration clauses mean that you cannot sue the company, and agree to accept the verdict of the arbitrator, for which there is no appeal, and who is generally hired by the company having the arbitration dispute and is therefore impartial /s. I have read FTC field reports about vehicle warranty claims where one arbitration decision was so outlandish even the FTC wrote that it was irrational, and the vast majority were in favor of the dealer.

roel_v 9y ago

While not a bank account, let's not be smug about our country: http://m.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/article/24095858/man-in-problemen-door-identiteitsdiefstal http://m.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/article/24095858/man-in-pro... . (For the non Dutch speakers, Amsterdam guy had several houses rented in his name, some of which were used for mj plantations, and various other expenses incurred in gis name). Identity theft is not just because of ssn or other unique semi secret numbers. It's part of it, yes, but the root cause is a combination of culture and lack of inventive (ie, identity theft is just not a big enough problem for actors to care).

jackskell 9y ago

Or, they have relinquished their ability to legal redress in court AS A CONDITION of doing business with them, agreeing to arbitration.

defined 9y ago
This is a HUGE issue in the USA, one which, apparently, too few people know about, or take seriously. More and more companies are insisting on customers signing binding arbitration clauses as a condition of doing business: car dealers, banks, airlines, you mention it. It's all very well to say, well, don't do business with them, when all the competition are doing the exact same thing. If you need, say, a new car, well, good luck getting one without signing most of your rights away, and this is no exaggeration. Binding mandatory arbitration clauses mean that you cannot sue the company, and agree to accept the verdict of the arbitrator, for which there is no appeal, and who is generally hired by the company having the arbitration dispute and is therefore impartial /s. I have read FTC field reports about vehicle warranty claims where one arbitration decision was so outlandish even the FTC wrote that it was irrational, and the vast majority were in favor of the dealer.