What's it All About?

Recently, a friend of mine had her debit card number stolen. The thief wiped out her account.
I wish I could say I was shocked and abhorred to hear this story. Sadly, though, she was, at least, the 5th or 6th friend or relative of mine who has had this happen in the past couple of years.

Did you know that over 11 million people per year have their identity stolen on our continent?

What's even more sad is that 1 in 20 of those victims are children and young adults whose identity has been stolen BY THEIR OWN PARENTS!

I am the butt of frequent jokes amidst my friends and family. I am labeled as "old fashioned", "out of touch", "archaic", and "out of the loop". Why? Well, for starters, I don't own a cell phone. Add to that the fact that I still write checks, don't use a debit card, and only own one credit card (which I try not to use unless absolutely necessary) and you get the picture...these things open me up for MUCH jesting and ridicule in a modern society.

But, you know what? I have decided that I'm at a much lower risk for these sorts of crimes than the average-Joe. Unless, of course, my dear mother is planning some sort of elaborate scam against me and plans to heist my social security number next time I'm in town! LOL

I have had sales clerks laugh out loud and others say not-so-nice-things when, after filling out applications for this, that or the other discount or program, I come to a spot where the paper asks for my SSN and I STOP.
Usually, the cashier will say, "But, we can't process it without that." "Why not?" I ask. "I don't know. We just can't", they reply. "Then, I've changed my mind. I won't be needing that discount today". Eyes roll, mouths drop, heads shake..."Are you SUUUUURE you don't want to save all that money?" "Yes. If it means that I must give you and whomever else will get a hold of this form and information my SSN, then YES. I'm sure I DON'T want to save that money today."

My mother often muses that she is unsure if man's "progress" has really been worth it in the long run.
Yes, we have medicines and technology that makes life easier, helps us live longer, and provides quick and easy assistance to everyday tasks and duties...but...

We also have a society that's been so overcome by selfishness and greed that PARENTS ARE STEALING THEIR OWN KIDS' IDENTITIES!

We now have websites like, Identity Hawk, that offer identity theft protection.

Protection from whom?! Our own parents???

Identity thiefs love to infiltrate the schools where all of the numbers and info necessary to commit their devious acts are laid out nicely and neatly in computer files and filing cabinets.

I'm with mother.

How worthy has all of this "progress" been if we have to worried and anxious that someone we KNOW (most often, the thieves are people we know) will be so desperate and tempted by money, luxury, and greed that they will steal our identities?

I think back to the days of the Pioneers? I can't think of any identity theft they could have had other than the occasionally forged signature or fugitives in disguise who were trying to pass themselves off as someone else.

No credit cards. No debit cards. No SSN (That didn't come about until 1936.)
No need to worry that we would receive repeated phone calls from a collection agency and finding out that we have a mortgage debt of over $100,000 and THEN finding out that our own PARENTS stole our identity in order to secure a loan for themselves!

I know, I know. People back then had malaria, Yellow Fever, Consumption, and all sorts of other injuries and ailments that couldn't be cured or healed.

And, yes, there were criminals. There were stage-coach robbers and dishonest bankers and what-not.

But, think about it. Did people have to be afraid to tell their name to someone? To tell where they lived?
To state what they did for a living? To trust an I.O.U.?

Along with progress and advanced technology, something in this society of ours, changed...and NOT for the better.

I might be "old fashioned". I might be "archaic". I might be "ridiculous".

But, I know where my money is, I don't live with huge debts, and when my mother calls me on the phone, I BELIEVE her when she says she's "just callin' to say hello and see how the kids are doing".

That, apparently, is a special blessing in today's world.