Interac(ting) with identity thieves

The Globe & Mail reports that a recent survey of Canadians proves identity theft (and the subsequent fraud and cash theft from associated bank account) from debit cards is [Shock! Horror!] underreported: Debit card fraud more widespread than banks believe. Key details:

About 4 per cent of people surveyed by Environics Research for the Industry Department last fall said they had been a victim of fraud through their debit card in the previous year.

That figure is a great deal larger than the official fraud statistic of 1/10 of 1 per cent publicized by the banking sector and the debit card association.

and

The poll, with a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points 19 times out of 20, also suggests the incidence of fraud may be underreported and not well-known.

All of which is interesting, but proves exactly what? That the body which reports theft and fraud on its system would tend toward perpetuating a general perception of safety in that system? That the system is vulnerable [like any other isn't]? That its a user error (i.e., it's kind of up to the card user to ensure that s/he protects his/her card and PIN) rather than a system problem per se?

Posted by Grayson at June 3, 2005 12:04 PM