Loading prices...

Register/Sign in
ScrapMonster
Sell Your Junk CarGet an instant quote for your car on ScrapMonster.com
Waste & Recycling April 25, 2015 04:00:22 AM

Scrapped cars storing mountains of personal data

Paul Ploumis
ScrapMonster Author
It's information that's so valuable it's protected by federal and state laws

Scrapped cars storing mountains of personal data

AUSTIN (Scrap Monster): It's information that's so valuable it's protected by federal and state laws.

But the KHOU 11 News I-Team found mountains of personal information discarded for anyone to see.

It's happening at Houston-area salvage yards, where crumpled and scrapped cars, and everything left inside, sit waiting for customers browsing for used auto parts.

The I-Team went undercover, documenting the documents left behind.

Everything from banking information with account numbers, to entire credit cards, driver's license information, social security numbers, and even medical records were strewn amongst broken glass and twisted metal inside the cars.

In one case, the I-Team even found a completed tax return listing someone's full name, address, and social security number inside a glove compartment.

It's information that would be virtual gold to an identity thief.

"Oh, this is very simple for someone to do," said Special Agent Marvin Wright with the US Secret Service. "This is definitely one of the ways that people steal identities." Wright oversees the Electronic Crimes Task Force which specializes in identity theft cases.

"What we would call this is similar to dumpster diving, getting information that's been discarded or thrown away," Wright said after watching video of what the I-Team discovered.

It's something that terrifies Allison Doolittle.

"Wow, that's really scary," said Doolittle.

We found the mother of three's personal information left inside a car she sold for scrap last year.

"That's really upsetting that I left that in there," she admitted.

The I-Team showed video of what we found to Doolittle. Since the records didn't belong to the I-Team, we didn't remove any from the salvage yard.

"I'm scared somebody's going to steal our whole lives," Doolittle said. "I mean I've got kids to support. And there are people who could take everything we've worked for."

Because Texas doesn't have laws or regulations that force scrap yards to clean personal information out of vehicles, it's up to drivers to protect themselves.

Something that disturbs another car seller.

The I-Team found more than half a dozen documents, including loan documents, which contained all sorts of personal information inside his former car.

He agreed to speak to the I-Team if we didn't use his name.

"There should be some type of regulation," the man said. "Scrap yards in the business to sell parts, not information."

Fearing the damage was already done, he did not return to the salvage yard to retrieve his paperwork, but Doolittle did.

The I-Team contacted Ronnie Patke, President of Texas Automotive Recyclers Association for this story.

Initially, Patke agreed to an interview, but then cancelled, saying "it is ultimately the owner and insurance company's responsibility to remove the papers."

Meanwhile, Special Agent Wright suggests only keeping sensitive information in a safe place, and not storing it in your car.

He adds, if you do have a crash, make sure you either clean out of the car yourself, or have a family member do it, before the vehicle is sent to the junkyard.

Courtesy: www.khou.com

×

Quick Search

Advanced Search