posted on October 19, 2004 05:27:43 PM
In our local paper today:
Martha Reeves, former lead singer of Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, says eBay left her open to identity theft by posting a contract on its Web site that showed her Social Security number and signature.
Reeves filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission bout the posting.
"you feel completely exposed," the Motown star told The Detroit News on Sunday. "They've got my Social Security number and signature. That's all they need to steal my identity."
This month, the president of her fan club in Kansas City called to alert Reeves that a contract she had signed in 1975 to appear on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" was for sale on eBay. It included her Social Security number, and anyone could copy the number down by clicking on a photo, Reeves said.
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Do you think eBay is responsible? I don't as I think it is the fault of the seller. I know when I have sold items with names I have just covered them over with paper so nobody could read it but the buyer would have the information. I wonder if she knows who the seller is because it is one of her contracts.
It will be interesting to see what happens but then again we will probably never know...
posted on October 19, 2004 07:25:50 PM
It is NOT impossible for someone to get your SS#. Don't ever think for one minute that it's safe and secure. It's all over the place. The minute you get a credit card or open a bank account, you are open to identity theft for example.
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Oct 19, 2004 07:26 PM ]
posted on October 19, 2004 07:35:36 PM
Ebay has dozens of lawsuits going at any given time. The only reason this one made the news is because of the high profile person involved. They will use the "We're only a venue" defense to squash this one the same as they do all the others.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on October 19, 2004 07:45:20 PM
After I posted this I went and found the auction. The sellers sell autographed pictures and other items and I think it is the sellers responsibility to protect the person when they can and I think they could have in this instant. There is nothing saying that they couldn't have covered the SS number so it didn't show. I think Martha Reeves has a gripe but should take it up with the seller not eBay. I am sure they are going to say they are only a venue but in this instance I think they are right.
