Anyone know more about this BT "uk identity verification" scheme?

[Nigel Metheringham]

On Wed, 2003-03-05 at 10:46, David Howe wrote:
> In phase one, the only details that will be entered are name, address
> and Meter Point Asset Number - the number in the corner of every
> household electricity bill which is unique to that property.

So to do identity theft you need a name, an address and a Meter Point
Asset Number.  

The first 2 you get from the very helpful BT online phone directory
service (make up a surname and a town, search on it, get name with
initials or even forename plus full address).

To get the meter reference number you go to one of the (many) sites that
lets you do online comparison and switching of energy suppliers - see
http://switchwithwhich.co.uk/enecontacts.html for a selection.

Change the victim's electricity supplier, and you will probably find
that in the contractual bumpf that is presented to you (or sent to your
previously defined throwaway email address), that the meter ref is given
- at least thats how I remember it when I changed supplier a year back.

Looks like BT have basically just made the Electoral Register data a
little easier to rip off.....   I hope there are some liability issues
included, although expect that BT have carefully made sure that everyone
other than them is liable.

BT, promoting identity theft to the masses.

	Nigel.

-- 
[ Nigel Metheringham           Nigel.Metheringham@InTechnology.co.uk ]
[ - Comments in this message are my own and not ITO opinion/policy - ]