DESPITE YouTube’s strict security policies, identity thieves have turned to the video sharing site to advertise their wares.
In one video the seller, who never reveals his face, offers full identity dossiers for US$25 a time, or five for US$100.
The dossiers contain the subject’s names, address, social security number, driving license details, sex, mother’s name, occupation, age, car license plate, date of birth and net worth including any real estate and liquid assets.
The video sharing site defended it has been taking down the videos as fast as they appear.
Online crime correspondent Brian Sullivan said the thieves would offer to sell the details in exchange for a PayPal deposit.
Sullivan said the thieves’ ad even had a disclaimer that the information could only be used for marketing purposes and can’t be used for illegal activity.
He blamed companies for storing too much information on customers for the growing commercialisation of identity theft.
Too often he said they collected information that had no relevance and stored it for good, making customers more vulnerable.
