ChoicePoint files found riddled with errors

Deborah Pierce held a rare and precious document in her hands. It was the story of her life, as told by ChoicePoint Inc. She wasn't supposed to see it; an anonymous source had smuggled the report to her. But there it was, her "National Comprehensive Report," 20 pages long, a complete dossier of all the digital breadcrumbs she's left behind during her adult life.

At least, that's what it was supposed to be.

Pierce said she felt an uneasy twinge in her stomach as she began to flip the pages. A dozen former addresses were listed, along with neighbors and their phone numbers. Almost 20 people were listed as relatives -- and their neighbors were listed, too. There were cars she supposedly owned, businesses she supposedly worked for.

But the more closely she looked, the more alarmed she became: The report was littered with mistakes.

ChoicePoint, the now embattled database giant, aggregates data from hundreds of sources on millions of Americans. The reports are then sold to thousands of companies and government agencies that want to know more about their clients, customers, or employees.

Interactive Identity theft What to do when it happens

As first reported by MSNBC.com, the company last month warned 145,000 people that criminals posing as legitimate businesses had accessed that information, putting them at risk of identity theft. The incident sparked discussion about the larger industry of data collection, made up of companies known as commercial data brokers.  ChoicePoint is the largest, but there are hundreds of other firms that collect and sell private information for profit. ChoicePoint also has a host of important government clients, including the FBI and other intelligence agencies.

The Alpharetta, Ga.-based company declined to be interviewed for this story, pointing a reporter toward the firm's Web site for additional information. The company separately announced Tuesday that it has hired a top official at the Transportation Security Administration to review how the company screens its customers.

Pierce, a privacy advocate, obtained her report nearly two years ago, long before the current controversy. Thanks to the unknown source -- perhaps a company employee, Pierce said, but she has no way of knowing -- she got a rare privilege most consumers don't: a chance to see what ChoicePoint knows about her.

She didn't like what she saw.

MORE FROM SECURITY

Security Section Front

Check your junk mail: Might have a contract in it FTC warns of increase in Internet scams Man indicted in hacking of Palin's e-mail Tiny flash drives improve their security Fake YouTube pages used to spread viruses EU proposes more rights for Internet shoppers Gmail 'Mail Goggles' stymie drunk e-mailing Fraud plagues prepaid calling card market GPS 'spoofing' could threaten national security Chinese snoop on Skype, but are they alone? Security Section Front   Add Security headlines to your news reader: