And Mike Masnick does on not exactly have positive things to say about Patricia Dunn's tactics - tactics which now threaten to place HP in the cross-hairs of a variety of Federal and state law enforcement agencies based on the admitted use of pretexting by investigators (or data brokers employed on behalf of investigators) retained by HP at the highest level.

Now, pretexting for financial records is solidly in the illegal column, as per the Graham Leach Bliley Act of '99. Pretexting to accuire other personal information, say, phone records, for instance is a somewhat grayer area. Definitely frowned upon, but, strictly illegal, not really (although in California...maybe at least a misdemeanor).

More (undoubtably) to come.

-- MDT

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