Net neutrality isn’t the only Obama administration policy where the Trump administration’s efforts to overturn it are being bolstered by a flood of identity theft and fake comments. The Wall Street Journal reports that it seems to be happening with the fiduciary rule, too. That’s the rule requiring retirement advisers to act in the best interest of their clients—the kind of thing it’s unbelievable wasn’t already a law.
Consider the experience of Robert Schubert, a Devon, Pa., salesperson. A comment posted in his name on the Labor Department website opposed the rule, saying: “I do not need, do not want and object to any federal interference in my retirement planning.”
In an interview, Mr. Schubert said the comment was a fraud. He didn’t post it and doesn’t agree with it. “I am disgusted that people can post comments using my name,” Mr. Schubert said.
Mr. Schubert is among 50 people who responded to a survey last week conducted by research firm Mercury Analytics for The Journal—40%, or 20 of whom said they didn’t post the comment listed under their name, address, phone number and email.
Asked about the Journal findings, a Labor Department spokesman said the agency removes fraudulent comments brought to the agency’s attention. Submitting fraudulent statements or representations to the federal government is a felony.
Do we all need to add this to our efforts against identity theft? Like, you protect your passwords and account numbers and have credit monitoring and also you have to search every government website taking public comments for fake ones made in your name?