Is Lottery Security Gamble?
Some experts say a New Jersey lottery Internet site may pose a security risk. The lottery’s VIP Club offers discounts, bonus games and daily e-mails of winning numbers, but in return asks members to post their name, address, e-mail address, birth date and mother’s maiden name. Security experts say that’s all the information a crook would need to steal an identity – to do such things as apply for credit cards and make purchases not authorized by the club member. About 77,000 lottery customers have signed up for the VIP service in the year it’s been operating. Lottery officials say the information is needed to verify age of players, who must be over 18, and for lottery security validations. Mother’s maiden name is a common verifier. They say the information is secure and is never disclosed to outsiders. Lottery officials say they’ve also never had an identity theft or security breach.
