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Storing thumbprints to prevent check fraud?
July 29th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
Apparently, if you do not have an account at Bank of America, but attempt to cash a check at one of their branches, they require you to provide a fingerprint. After years of denying the practive, they have finally admitted it to a local newspaper. The bank wouldn't reveal where the prints are stored, how long they're stored, or who has access to them. The policy was developed in order to fight check fraud, but naturally, privacy advocates are concerned. American Banking Association President Doug Johnson dismissed privacy concerns in the name of protecting against identity fraud, saying, "I think some of the privacy concerns are overstated to a certain degree." But critics worry that compiling a database of biometric information leaves open the possibility of a particularly dangerous data breach, putting consumers at an even greater risk of identity theft.
These types of issues are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. In the meantime, perhaps you should consider investing in identity theft protection?
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