How do they get here?

I assume very few people understand the technical things in an internet search. I believe these people searching for their loan company put the name in the google / yahoo and find this website at the first few ranks. Not knowing anything about the real company, they assume this website has a connection with the loan company. So, they post their questions.

This also makes us think why this website only comes at the top when a particular search is done for some company. Google / Yahoo searches results based on the key words in the website. If you search for a company, say "Palisades Collections", this website will pop up because of the recent postings done in the website. People coming for the first time assume this is the one they are looking for and hence put a request.

Definately what you said, IH. People just find the site and take no time to really examine where they are. They just post the most personal bits of information for all to see, and expect everything to be handled.

And you wonder why I am not amazed at how people get scammed.

I hate to say it, but people don't think. And with each passing day, they get think even less. And for that, I blame a lot on technology. We make it easy for people to purchase things, drive, learn....you name it. Through technology, you can be in Japan in an instant:

www.nhk.or.jp/english/

Click it. BOOM! Welcome to Japan. It's that simple. And so many other things are a simple click or drag. Computers have been around over 25 years, and I am still amzed at the number of people that don't understand them, not to mention haven't really used one. We have dumbed down the most techincal thing to bring it to the masses, but the masses really aren't ready to handle it. And the Catch-22 is that it really is pretty simple to understand technology. To protect yourself, you don't need to know how to defrag a hard drive, replace a video card and set the IRQ jumpers, setup an 802.11g wireless network with 128bit encryption or even rip, compress and burn a DVD, you just need to know the basics:

1) The internet is a lot of opinion. Everything you read or see is not fact.
2) When you meet someone, one of your first questions is usually "Tell me about yourself". Same is true on most websites - it's called the "About Us" link. Click it.
3) If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
4) What people claim to be or look like is probably BS, cuz if you saw them outside your front door, you wouldn't let them in ('cept for me and Jessi - we ARE full on hotties 24/7/365 :) ).
5) Educate yourself. Just like you should get a second opinion when you aren't sure what the doctor said, take another roam around the internet for more proof.
and 6) Just be careful. The greatest things can come down the little wire in your house. Remember the nastiest stuff rides down the same line. You are in control of what you or a family member sees. It's like television - if you don't like it, turn it off.

Yippee! Jeff thinks I'm a full on hottie! Love ya Jeff!

People don't read things closely. I see this EVERY DAY at my work at Priceline.com. You wouldn't believe the calls we get every day of people (I don't know if they are LYING or just stupid) that say "I put my credit card information in and submitted the offer, but I didn't KNOW it was going to CHARGE ME!" Why would you put in your credit card number if you were just looking? And you had to INITIAL the contract portion of the page that says you will be charged if your offer is accepted! Gahhhh!

Yeah - anytime something asks for information you feel is TOTALLY unrelated to what you need, you should look a little closer.

For example, if I was searching for movie tickets and the website asked for my social security number, that should raise a red flag in my brain.

A SSN# for seeing a movie!!!! Well that draws a red flag!!

Is there any legal case to sue the hall for taking serious personal info on entertainment reasons?

Granted, I was being over the top with that example, IH. I have honestly never seen that. I was trying to create an idea of something that is out of place with what you are seeking.

Hmmmm....let me think of a real life example I have seen. Ok: I was once searching for DSL service in my area and the company site I was at wanted credit card info from me. Hang on....I was just checking to see if service was in my area - I was not signing up for any. Needless to say, I do not have service with that company.

Is that a better example?

I understood Jeff when you said that. I was just thinking hyper. :lol:

Anyways, it's important that people should be informed about everything. Research is very important before signing with the company. And no one is under any obligations when they do so. Just be a fully informed consumer.

I work at the customer care of a company and get calls from people who have accounts with other companies I have no idea. I understand that the person is calling a wrong number but it is so easy for him to ask me to check his account details. They give their SSN# so easily and I am surprised when it's left at the voicemail when I am not taking the calls. How can someone be so casual with their most sensitive information!!

Agreed.

How many times does the gov't or the media have to jam it down peoples throats to protect your personal information? I bet the same people that rant and rave about telemarketers calling are people that give out their social security number at the drop of a hat.

A small bit of advice - if they ask to use your social security number to verify you, only give them the last 4. If they want more, tell them you will verify yourself through other means. Many companies software will block all but the last 4 numbers. You should only need to give that out to ID yourself.