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CA State Website Publishing Social Security Numbers

Posted on Mar 23, 2007 by Tom Fragala

California, which prides itself on being the most privacy-friendly state, gave its residents an unpleasant surprise today.

It was discovered that a California state web site had been exposing people’s Social Security numbers for years. The SSNs were including on bank lender statements and lien documents. Not only that but the state sells these documents for, apparently, $8 a pop.

Is it shocking news that the state was selling “identity theft starter kits” to potential thieves? Hardly, there are many data brokers and background check companies that acquire this public data and resell it to anyone that wants it.

More from the SacBee

Citing fears of identity theft, Secretary of State Debra Bowen on Thursday announced she is shutting down part of a state Web site that made available individuals' Social Security numbers.

Bowen said in a statement that she was shutting down Web access to copies of thousands of bank lender statements and lien documents.

Many of the Uniform Commercial Code documents contain Social Security numbers -- potential targets for identity thieves.