[kerkeslager]

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]

>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".

[kerkeslager]

> > 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.

Okay, could you cite this, please? I've been very clear that I'm just speculating, but if you're so sure maybe you have some insider information I don't?

My credit reports don't have my up-to-date address, so whatever they are doing is an awful way to maintain an up-to-date address.

[ryanlol]

>Okay, could you cite this, please? I've been very clear that I'm just speculating, but if you're so sure maybe you have some insider information I don't?

I don't know of public sources to cite, but I've seen the data. If there exists good public material about how these companies source their data, I haven't seen it.

These companies will accept data from essentially anywhere they can get it, not all of that will affect your credit score but it'll certainly affect your person profile. Name(s!),addresses,ssn(s!),dob(s!) and whatnot associated with an individual "person" id.

FWIW, the credit bureaus are not just credit bureaus:

https://www.tlo.com/law-enforcement

https://www.experian.com/consumer-information/right-party-co...

https://www.equifax.com/business/firstsearch/

[kerkeslager]

> I don't know of public sources to cite, but I've seen the data. If there exists good public material about how these companies source their data, I haven't seen it.

So, it sounds like you're speculating.

> These companies will accept data from essentially anywhere they can get it, not all of that will affect your credit score but it'll certainly affect your person profile. Name(s!),addresses,ssn(s!),dob(s!) and whatnot associated with an individual "person" id.

Look, I'm sure you're right, they do collect all the data they can. However, there are two caveats:

1. Implicitly or explicitly, they're also assigning confidence values to the accuracy of that data. They know that data you're legally obligated to be truthful about is more accurate than data you aren't. So if you're lying to them on store loyalty cards where no credit is being issued, that data gets prioritized somewhere between "useful for printing out and using as toilet paper" and "actual toilet paper". Data from your actual lines of credit is worth more and they know it.

2. While the credit bureaus have incentives to take whatever info they can get, loyalty card issuers don't necessarily have incentives to give them that info. I have a discount card for a local grocery chain. They could give my data to a credit bureau, but then the other two local grocery chains would be able to buy that data. That's their competitive advantage, gone. Why would they do that? I guess there's some value in protecting your data from a local grocery chain, but it's unlikely that fake data gets back to the credit bureaus anyway.

What I'm saying is that I don't think the steps you are taking are an effective means of protecting your data.

[ryanlol]

>So, it sounds like you're speculating.

So, it sounds like you’re calling me a liar.

[smogcutter]

“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]

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]

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]

>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.

[smogcutter]

Corrupting your name in particular is good policy. Hell, if you do it differently in different places and keep track that gives you an idea of who’s selling your data to who. Still not with you on lying on credit applications, but mazel tov if it’s been working for you.

[gtirloni]

Your advice here is very dangerous and people would be breaking numerous laws if they followed it.

[FDSGSG]

Do you happen to know which laws those would be?

The advice provided by GP seems to be "Apply for store loyalty cards and similar with fake information[...]. You could also open phone lines with fake information, ISP accounts and so on."

[gtirloni]

IANAL

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_fraud

[FDSGSG]

Well, that article doesn't seem to contain anything useful.

>Identity fraud is the use by one person of another person's personal information, without authorization, to commit a crime or to deceive or defraud that other person or a third person

That does not even sound similar to what is being discussed here.

It'd be useful if you could name at least some of the numerous laws that the discussed behaviour might violate.

[gtirloni]

Since I seem to be your personal Google bot today, here's another result: https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/e-...

Please rate my work on a scale 1-5