Saturday, June 2, 2001

Computer-generated mail -- too easy to fake? A front-page story in *The Yorkshire Post* of 2 Jun 2001 reported that fake letters had been sent out in Bradford, requesting that people send _original_ birth certificates to enable the local council to recreate records lost through a computer error. Original birth certificates are usable for identity theft. The new twist comes from how the letters were created: A council spokesman said they had no reason to believe council employees had stolen headed paper as the headings on most council correspondence were printed of on each individual letter by computer, and so could be copied by anyone who has received a letter by e-mail. I'm not sure just what the computer-printed headings are, whether it includes some expensively-designed logo, and what details are actually included in e-mails. Obviously, it's that little bit easier to fake a letter if the genuine article is entirely computer-printed, rather than using old-fashioned pre-printed paper. Even with that barrier, people are becoming used to entirely computer-printed letters, headings and all. I just hope I don't get an e-mail from Bradford council, if they have their logo attached as a graphics file. [Original Yorkshire Post story by Amy Binns ] David G. Bell -- Farmer, SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger. [dbell@zhochaka.demon.co.uk (David G. Bell) via risks-digest Volume 21, Issue 44] 0:00 # G!

Forgery Attempt -- risk of identity theft of a different sort.... ... The package arrived bearing the official stamp of the Prince George's County clerk of the Circuit Court, the signature of the chief judge and a court order demanding the immediate release from prison of a triple murderer. {details re: attempt to free prisoner with forged documents} [Prince George's Chief Administrative Judge William D.] Missouri said he believes the signatures were photocopied from real court documents and pasted onto the fake release order. He suspects that someone inside the courthouse may have been involved. ... This is not the first time copied signatures have been used. It won't be the last. But one wonders what the big push at retailers toward digitized credit-card slips will bring. [David Lesher via risks-digest Volume 21, Issue 44] 0:00 # G!