I keep saying do not use your s.s.i. number, it says right on your card only to be used for s.s.i.. Any place who asks you for it is wrong in doing so.

I recieved a phone call from a place looking for a person I knew who had not made a car payment in sometime. I told them that person didn't live there so why are they calling me, The person gave them my phone number, they somehow got someone elses s.s.i. number took to it the car sales lot bought a car. The auto sales never bothered to call and verify any of this. Now get this they sent me a copy of the signature of the alledged co-signer and it had nothing to do with me and then I had a copy of the persons s.s.i. number.

I don't believe this is computer error. She was placed in a position of trust and violated that trust with unfortunate consequences for the rest of us. And unfortunately, a SS number is required when you open an account at a bank, including a credit card. The bank has to report that account to the Federal government for tax purposes. It is against the law not to and has severe penalties.

you might need to use your ssi number to open an account at a bank but it's for taxes and ssi, your insurance doesn't need it and neither do most other places a letter from your employer will work. If only the bank and ssi have your number you know where to start making someone fix this problem. I don't keep bank accounts or credit cards, don't have money for them, don't order things over the internet either. If I can't send a money order, I don't need it.

I don't even give out my date of birth...if they insist I give them the wrong date and let them figure it out.

For those readers not in the military, do you know that the Coast Guard, and I assume all the military services, stopped using serial numbers and changed to SS numbers years ago? As a Coast Guard member my ID card only has my SS numbrer, there for all who look at my ID to see.

JR

This is a great lesson on how poorly the companies and important agencies of the government who we hope will protect us do not safeguard our personal financial information. Social Security numbers were meant to be between you, and Social Security, later the IRS wanted to get in on this mark of the beast action and tracking system, a poor identifier at best. The State of Maine loves to collect these numbers and the all so important date of birth at the licensing bureau where they require your private financial information for a driver's license and ID for mark of the beast identifying purposes. Even the court's demand them from people who make payments on fines, or submit to bail. It's all public records. If Coast Guard Admiral's personal data can't be secure, how do you expect yours to be? The entire credit system is the joke, that's why the entire world is throwing it in the frying pan. The corporations don't lose, but they do when we stop using their debt system because of it's inherent brokenness; hence silly cases like this that wouldn't be in the court if it wasn't for one Admiral's security clearance.

Ummmm... why give your social security (retirement #) for a public utility service.... Can we say perfect example of why you should NEVER give your Social Security Number!!

Thank you JoeCentral, finally a reader with some common sense not just a blind sheep. You are EXACTLY right "If Coast Guard Admiral's personal data can't be secure, how do you expect yours to be? The entire credit system is the joke, that's why the entire world is throwing it in the frying pan. The corporations don't lose, but they do when we stop using their debt system because of it's inherent brokenness; hence silly cases like this that wouldn't be in the court if it wasn't for one Admiral's security clearance." Our taxpayers money paid i am sure a huge amount to investigate and try this case...over 1. credit card with a fairly low balance that was paid on?? I am sure our country could be using that money for better use....dont even get me started on the bailouts. To believe the defendant actually held on to this information for five years before using it is insane. To further keep reporting she obtained the information from the job she is suspended from and im sure by now terminated is simply reporting lies when the same paper has already reported that the prosecutions own witness from fairpoint/verizon testified that there was no evidence that the defendent accessed this information. If you are going to comment about things you think you know about, at least be intelligent enough to read the entire story

JoeCentral, Silly cases like this would be in the court and are. They just might not make headline news. The Admiral's security clearance was tip off yes, but there are other ways to find out when fraud is susepected. I received a letter the other day from my card company stating that there was three charges that looked suspicious on my account. It cost me pennies on the hundred dollars to protect myself.

far cry from 2-20 years for something that most likely was a computer error again read the facts and stop following the media like blind sheep. If the admirals security is the issue here how many people , including the defendant that may not have had the information prior to trial had it at the trial? the defendant, the jury, the witnesses and..oh yes...the almighty media

What are the facts I am missing that make me "blindly led by the media"? I think the defense is baaaaaaaaaaaaad (sheep joke) and it insults me that the perpetrator would want us to believe it. The 90 minutes the jury deliberated, did that include dinner?, because it shouldn't have taken that long. How can a computer error at least three different card companies, because there is three charges and three card companies mentioned, make the same mistake with someone who had to clear her debt and credit to so she could be considered for a top clearance job? That's the only issue. It is not who she works for or her status or what she does. It the fact that she had no current debt on the credit report because to get the job that is what needed to be done. So a person with no credit cards finds out she suddenly has many. But that is not even the issue. If it was me this would still be in court and the charges would be the same and I am no admiral of anything. Face facts yourself: no way, no how, can three companies have an error in their computers that will change the address of an application for a credit card. That is basically it. Everything about the admiral was correct except the address. And that address happens to be another Mary Landry, who does not dispute she applied for them. She just disputes entering the SS number and birth date wrong, of another Mary Landry. I know that her computer can be used to show what exactly she entered. So why not just give them the computer and be done with it? Was that ever brought up in court or the investigators or the then defendant? I think that computer's hard drive would have saved the government a lot in court costs. And it would have saved the Maine Mary Landry a lot of head ache and shame. Or it would have proved the same thing it took the court system three days to prove.

how would you know she had no credit cards? I read she had to have good credit not no credit? Wondering how closely you know one of the Marys and unless you know what the admirals information is yourself, ..or what the accused entered I do not believe it would be very smart of the media to publish the admirals social or date of birth? And I do also believe that it was reported to be a two day trial? and....one credit card with the others catching the mismatching information. I would venture to guess you are a MIStrusted friend, or family memeber. I did not see much of the information you have stated here in any of these articles other than she needed to have GOOD credit, which is not the same as NO credit. Guess Ignorance Truly Is Bliss huh CHaz

Well Mary Landry of Maine aka ingorAnceisbliSS, I might have miss read the article which stated the debt issue, but I don't think so. All the information I got was from the paper. I just made judgments and suppositions, but your trial manuscript is available for pubic knowledge. If I would be as invested in this as you are, I might go read for myself what said during the trial. I however, have a life and family which I work hard to provide for.

Even if the companies caught the attempt of fraud in the other two, you were still charged with wire fraud. So to me, that is at least three card applications. The people who read this stuff, the people in court, citizens of the US are making the same hypotheses I am. People are outraged that an employee of company would use private information of their customers for criminal activity and their own personal gain. Ignorance is not always bliss, it obviously has caused you a lot of trouble. I am not related to or friends with anyone named Mary Landry. Your own words here in these comments usually confirms the thoughts I was having. I believe I have nothing more to say, but this was fun. I will keep eye out for the sentencing. I believe in the justice system and I believe justice will be served.

lol,. must be pretty bored there C hazeta L. Pretty good at multitasking, now not only are you judge and jury but supposedly have a life outside the obsession with this case as well. LMAO