Screenshots shared with 404 Media show tenant screening services ApproveShield and Argyle taking much more data than they need. “Opt-out means no housing.”
At most employers, this is grounds for immediate termination, and rightfully so. Rarely are the credentials to view paystubs entirely separate from the rest.
You’ve now given your potential landlord access to a much wider system. In many places, the potential landlords are then criminally guilty of unauthorized access to a computer system, AKA “hacking”. The potential tenant typically does not have the authority to grant the authorization.
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.
At most employers, this is grounds for immediate termination, and rightfully so. Rarely are the credentials to view paystubs entirely separate from the rest.
You’ve now given your potential landlord access to a much wider system. In many places, the potential landlords are then criminally guilty of unauthorized access to a computer system, AKA “hacking”. The potential tenant typically does not have the authority to grant the authorization.
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.