Screenshots shared with 404 Media show tenant screening services ApproveShield and Argyle taking much more data than they need. “Opt-out means no housing.”
Yeah this is a massive security risk. Even if the landlord doesn’t intend anything malicious, I seriously doubt they’re putting much effort into protecting that information. Juicy target for a ransomware gang.
Especially since this has been an identity theft scam for decades. People post fake, too good to be true, rental listings on Craigslist and the application asks for SSN and a “family reference” (asking for mother’s maiden name) and a weirdly small deposit paid by check. Now you’ve got all the info you need to steal someone’s identity. And I assume this kind of thing has gotten more sophisticated in the digital realm since I was last renting.
Yeah this is a massive security risk. Even if the landlord doesn’t intend anything malicious, I seriously doubt they’re putting much effort into protecting that information. Juicy target for a ransomware gang.
Except, you know, determining that you’re “eligible” and can “afford” for an 80% rent hike
Especially since this has been an identity theft scam for decades. People post fake, too good to be true, rental listings on Craigslist and the application asks for SSN and a “family reference” (asking for mother’s maiden name) and a weirdly small deposit paid by check. Now you’ve got all the info you need to steal someone’s identity. And I assume this kind of thing has gotten more sophisticated in the digital realm since I was last renting.