Innocent Questions or Identity Theft?

Question

So I am a pretty trusting person and my Mom is a pretty paranoid one.
A woman sharing my last name has contacted me on facebook about family tree research and I would love to help her out.
She is just asking the names of my Parents and Grandparents.
I complied and she responded asking the maiden names of my MOTHER and GRANDMOTHER. This is strange because the side of lineage she is researching is the side of my FATHER and GRANDFATHER.
My mom freaked out and told me not to tell her anything because it could be identity theft.
Are her concerns legit? Should I not answer the quesitons?
Or is my mom just being paranoid?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Okay, I think you better be very very careful. Giving your mother's maiden name out is very dangerous. By itself, its not enough to do anything, but it puts a scammer that much close to owning your identity.

I feel so strongly about this, I wrote a blog post about it: http://identity-protection-blog.blogspot.com/2008/10/identity-protection-tip-never-divulge.html I hope you don't mind!

In this day and age, unfortunately we need to be a little paranoid... :(

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Answer 2

My recommendation would be to contact her back asking for more information about why she wants the information and who she is related to so that you can verify her story. When in doubt, just don't give it out.
There's no guarantee nowadays but imagine what you would do if she was standing in front of you in, say Afghanistan, asking you these same questions. You don't necessarily need to blow her off but take everything she says with "a grain of salt".

Answer 3

Ask her for a copy of the information she has so far. That way you can validate who she has and whether she is really doing anything. If she starts making any excuses why she can'/wont give them to you, stop talking to her.

Building a family tree does need both sides of a family.

Answer 4

I wouldn't respond, I hang out with a lot of hackers that do that kind of stuff and they usually try and get you to think of something else and respond without even knowing what you have done. I would suggest reading the book "The Art of Deception" by Kevin Mitnick. Good job on thinking about his though.

Answer 5

No you should not hand that info out. Sometimes that can be your secret question for "forget the password" services.
Better to just ignore the person

Answer 6

I'd be very suspicious, usually you have to provide your mothers maiden name when seeking credit.

Answer 7

It is probably better not to respond, just to be safe.