Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Dumpster Divers at Chase Bank Find Personal Information

Via wcbstv.com & Digg.com -

(CBS) NEW YORK A bank error that's certainly not in your favor has found its way onto the Internet, and now officials say very personal information of thousands of Chase Bank customers could find its way into the hands of identity thieves.

A new YouTube video flaunting the personal information of Chase Bank customers is getting a lot of attention.

The video shows a person holding numerous confidential financial documents of bank customers, and pointing out information that is supposed to be protected by the bank.

"Social Security Numbers here as well as date of birth," one person could be heard saying on the video, pointing to one of the documents. Bank statements, credit reports and other personal documents were seen being unearthed in the video.

Researchers for the Service Employees International Union, which is battling the banking giant over its use of non-union security employees, found the documents out in the open. They were found in trash bags that were left outside several New York City Chase branches.

According to Local 32 spokesman Matt Nerzig, the video shows "deposit slips, all kinds of materials and papers naturally assumed shredded in the bank.

"Many bank customers are very careful with their personal information, and are not amused at the public revelations about account information.

"I will go to YouTube and look at the video, I mean, that's outrageous," said Chase customer Larry Feldstein.

"It's pretty scary that your data could be out there," added Robert Lipper, another Chase client.

Chase responded in a written statement, which read:
"We take these allegations and privacy of customer information very seriously and are investigating the information provided by the union. We have reached out to the union to get additional information."

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Normally I try not to post articles directly from Digg.com, but this one is pretty crazy.

I don't really see how the Union is using this in its benefit, has this type of thing happens all the time....even in states without Unions. This isn't a Union/Non-Union issue, it is not caring about the security of their customers, plain and simple.

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