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?

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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

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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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