4 ms·

I would like to know this as well.

ryanlol 7y ago
Easy, you just lie when people ask. Apply for store loyalty cards and similar with fake information to get that associated with your data broker profiles. You could also open phone lines with fake information, ISP accounts and so on. A good investigator with expensive access will still be able to track you down, but automatically exploiting your data will be much more difficult if it's a mess.
- kerkeslager 7y ago
  We're not talking about just any data brokers though, the parent comment mentioned credit bureaus specifically. I'm not a lawyer, but if you're applying for a line of credit with false information, I'm pretty sure that's a crime. If you're not applying for a line of credit, I don't think credit bureaus such as Equifax or "Transperian" (which I assume is a portmanteau of TransUnion and Experian) will base anything on that data, since it's so obviously easy to manipulate.
  - ryanlol 7y ago
    >I'm not a lawyer, but if you're applying for a line of credit with false information, I'm pretty sure that's a crime. I'm definitely not a lawyer, but unless your intent is to defraud I wouldn't be so sure about that. I also don't see how you'd ever end up getting prosecuted for this unless you really piss someone off, in which case I guess you could get prosecuted for just about anything. In any case, whether or not this is legal seems utterly irrelevant. >If you're not applying for a line of credit, I don't think credit bureaus such as Equifax or "Transperian" (which I assume is a portmanteau of TransUnion and Experian) will base anything on that data, since it's so obviously easy to manipulate. You would be wrong. That'd be an awful way to maintain up-to-date address data on people. Besides, the first company named was "Lexis-Nexis".
    - smogcutter 7y ago
      “Honestly your honor, I wasn’t going to use the loan I applied for with false information, I was just trying to briefly confuse hackers and advertisers!” But I really don’t know, because I’m also not a lawyer and therefore do not give people legal advice on the internet.
      - ryanlol 7y ago
        The idea is that you'd use the loan, and pay it just like you normally would. But instead of giving the lender your actual address you give them some other address, essentially indistinguishable from a regular data entry error. I can't see anyone getting in trouble for this unless they're creating fake credit profiles or not paying their debts, the credit bureau dbs are chock-full of garbage data from garbage sources. How would you even get caught in the first place?
        smogcutter 7y ago
        I mean, go for it, but you’re still talking about falsifying loan documents. That’s gotta be a good way to gin up trouble, even if it doesn’t come to prosecution. I just can’t see a scenario where some info is fake and other info is real (necessary bc you’re using and paying the loan) that’s both kosher with the bank and gives you the obscurity you’re looking for. Is this something you can actually speak to from experience, or are we both spitballing? Because I’m happy to be wrong, but if we’re both making this up as we go then the conversation is pretty pointless.
        ryanlol 7y ago
        >That’s gotta be a good way to gin up trouble, even if it doesn’t come to prosecution. But how? Realistically the worst case scenario here is that you get denied the loan because the computer says no, after the initial application nobody cares unless you owe an outrageous amount and stop paying. >Is this something you can actually speak to from experience, or are we both spitballing? Yeah, when companies or governments ask me for my "home address" I definitely don't tell them where I live. I also go out of my way to corrupt my name whenever possible. Phone numbers? Usually just random numbers unless I know for sure I'm going to get a call I need to answer. And yes, I have credit cards.
- greedo 7y ago
  I'm pretty sure this would qualify as fraud in most jurisdictions.
  - ryanlol 7y ago
    Why? You aren't deceiving anyone for a benefit, nor are you causing any injury.

Easy, you just lie when people ask. Apply for store loyalty cards and similar with fake information to get that associated with your data broker profiles. You could also open phone lines with fake information, ISP accounts and so on. A good investigator with expensive access will still be able to track you down, but automatically exploiting your data will be much more difficult if it's a mess.

kerkeslager 7y ago
We're not talking about just any data brokers though, the parent comment mentioned credit bureaus specifically. I'm not a lawyer, but if you're applying for a line of credit with false information, I'm pretty sure that's a crime. If you're not applying for a line of credit, I don't think credit bureaus such as Equifax or "Transperian" (which I assume is a portmanteau of TransUnion and Experian) will base anything on that data, since it's so obviously easy to manipulate.
- ryanlol 7y ago
  >I'm not a lawyer, but if you're applying for a line of credit with false information, I'm pretty sure that's a crime. I'm definitely not a lawyer, but unless your intent is to defraud I wouldn't be so sure about that. I also don't see how you'd ever end up getting prosecuted for this unless you really piss someone off, in which case I guess you could get prosecuted for just about anything. In any case, whether or not this is legal seems utterly irrelevant. >If you're not applying for a line of credit, I don't think credit bureaus such as Equifax or "Transperian" (which I assume is a portmanteau of TransUnion and Experian) will base anything on that data, since it's so obviously easy to manipulate. You would be wrong. That'd be an awful way to maintain up-to-date address data on people. Besides, the first company named was "Lexis-Nexis".
  - smogcutter 7y ago
    “Honestly your honor, I wasn’t going to use the loan I applied for with false information, I was just trying to briefly confuse hackers and advertisers!” But I really don’t know, because I’m also not a lawyer and therefore do not give people legal advice on the internet.
    - ryanlol 7y ago
      The idea is that you'd use the loan, and pay it just like you normally would. But instead of giving the lender your actual address you give them some other address, essentially indistinguishable from a regular data entry error. I can't see anyone getting in trouble for this unless they're creating fake credit profiles or not paying their debts, the credit bureau dbs are chock-full of garbage data from garbage sources. How would you even get caught in the first place?
      - smogcutter 7y ago
        I mean, go for it, but you’re still talking about falsifying loan documents. That’s gotta be a good way to gin up trouble, even if it doesn’t come to prosecution. I just can’t see a scenario where some info is fake and other info is real (necessary bc you’re using and paying the loan) that’s both kosher with the bank and gives you the obscurity you’re looking for. Is this something you can actually speak to from experience, or are we both spitballing? Because I’m happy to be wrong, but if we’re both making this up as we go then the conversation is pretty pointless.
        ryanlol 7y ago
        >That’s gotta be a good way to gin up trouble, even if it doesn’t come to prosecution. But how? Realistically the worst case scenario here is that you get denied the loan because the computer says no, after the initial application nobody cares unless you owe an outrageous amount and stop paying. >Is this something you can actually speak to from experience, or are we both spitballing? Yeah, when companies or governments ask me for my "home address" I definitely don't tell them where I live. I also go out of my way to corrupt my name whenever possible. Phone numbers? Usually just random numbers unless I know for sure I'm going to get a call I need to answer. And yes, I have credit cards.
greedo 7y ago
I'm pretty sure this would qualify as fraud in most jurisdictions.
- ryanlol 7y ago
  Why? You aren't deceiving anyone for a benefit, nor are you causing any injury.