I don’t know about you, but every time I am in a retail store, finalizing a purchase at the register, the 17-year old clerk asks me for my zip code, or e-mail address or phone number. I have always just said “Nope.” I can then almost pluck the contempt from the air around us, it is so thick. I am sure this teenybopper wonders “What’s the concern Old Man? It’s only your zip code I’m asking for. We only use if for demographic analysis.” Really? That’s all, huh? Harmless is it?
Well, if you have been following the news of late with some high profile data breaches in the spotlight, you know that it is not just the usual suspects of non-public information that has been compromised: name, social security number, credit card or account numbers. In fact, many seemingly other innocuous data elements have also been taken along with NPI elements. Though many think that since their name or e-mail address or zip code is already semi-public information they have nothing to worry about. The fact is, that semi-public information along with any NPI that bad guys harvest will lead to a more intense and serious strain of identity theft since the picture about you and your profile is much more complete and fulsome.
It is takes is just a moment of grumpiness at the point of sale to better protect your privacy in the long run. Though it benefits tremendously both the retailer and the data brokers they partner with to have that additional bit of information you might surrender at the register, it does you no good. It is a lop-sided deal.
So just say “Nope.” You may suffer a puzzled look from some young punk behind the register, but what does he know? It will be worth the financial peace of mind
