Changing names and identity fraud
Technology and Privacy Forum
22 September 2014
Department of Internal Affairs
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose,
by any other name would smell as sweet.
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William Shakespeare
• Guliemus Filius Johannes Shakspere (born?)
• Bill (by friends?)
• The Bard (in infamy)
• Francis Bacon or Christopher Marlow (alias of?)
• Mrs Shakespeare (Anne Hathaway)
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Why are changing names a problem?
• When they create additional records for the same customer.
Well…. No, not exactly
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Why are changing names a problem?
• When they are used to create false identities to commit fraudo avoid secondary taxo claim more than one benefito hide assetso dodge police vetting checks
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Quasimodo…
…that name rings a bell.
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What is a legal name?
Department of Internal Affairs
What is a legal name?
Any name providing it is not for the purposes of deceit.
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Official names
• Names recorded in authoritative registers
• Birth name
• Passport name (NZ or Overseas)
• Citizenship name
• Registered change of name
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Assumed names
• Alias
• Also known as (AKA)
• Commonly known as (CKA)
• Nickname
• Pseudonym
• and….
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Married names
• Assumed unrecorded until proven official
• No more maiden names please
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Privacy Act
• Principle 1o If you collect it use it
• Principle 3o State why collection is mandatory
• Principle 7o Correct on request
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Privacy Act cont.
• Principle 8o Accuracy vs misleading
• Principle 10o Collection for Id proofing vs correspondence
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Recommended practice
• Good practice guidance for the recording and use of personal names
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Principle 1
Customers are entitled to be referred to in correspondence and verbally by the name of their choice.
Principle 2
Organisations, where required, can establish the uniqueness of a customer, regardless of the name used.
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Principle 3
Organisations, when permitted, are able to actively match customers, where a unique identifier is not shared.
Principle 4
Organisations, where required, use the correct name.
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What can you do?
• Allow for two categories of name
Official & Assumed
Department of Internal Affairs
What else should you do?
• Have some additional flagso Validated name (official name checked against
source)o Preferred name (any name, one instance at a
time)o Anchor name (one instance of an official name)
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Principle 1
My name is Mr Potato Head – but call me Darth
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Principle 2
Hi, I’m Darth
Hi, I’m Yoda
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Principles 3 & 4
BigOrg’s Mr Potato Head
ACME’s Mr Potato Head
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So…
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