Thread regarding Fidelity Investments layoffs

Unless you submitted the new receipt they can fire you over that... people have mentioned they have been fired for much less

Personally, I’m concerned because I exchanged an item for a different color and still have the item. Am I at risk?

Did anyone contact Apple or Best Buy for this privacy issue?

This law firm is helping out all people who got screwed by Fidelity

https://twitter.com/ThomasLawGroup1/status/997262840435171328

Id like to ask Apple why the f--- they thought it was OK to share return receipts but were on some moral high ground when the FBI asked for assistance to unlock the San Bernadino killer's phone.

People were fired for violating a policy that didn’t exist. Who cares what Apple has to say.

Anyone call Apple and ask "WTF"?

I didnt use a card associated with Fidelity

I’m thinking the Fidelity credit card may be another smoking gun.

So Apple stood firm on not unlocking the phone of the San Bernadino killer but seems ok with giving up return receipts?

The shadiness gets even thicker. I found a bunch of employees that were fired on January 22, 2018 (Monday). Apple updated their private policy on January 19, 2018 (Friday) while these folks would have been already placed on leave. What are the odds of that being a coincidence?

Email from Apple:

Hi,

Thanks for contacting us.

I understand that you would like to know why Apple provided information about you returning the computer. I’ll provide the necessary information regarding this issue.

Your privacy is very important to Apple and we take numerous precautions to safeguard your personal information. This page outlines, in detail, how Apple protects your information:

http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/

To know more about how Apple provided information about you returning the computer, I request you to contact our Account Security team. To find the right contact information for Account Security in your area, see this page:

https://support.apple.com/HT204169

You can also contact our support team directly by phone. To find the right number for your area, see this page:

https://support.apple.com/HT201232

Or you may call this phone number under your region:

United States

1-800-275-2273

Should you have any questions regarding your iTunes Store account, feel free to reply to this email to let me know. In the meantime, please take care, and have a great day!

Thanks,

iTunes Store Customer Support

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww

A false light claim must contain the following elements: (1) the defendant made a publication about the plaintiff (Fidelity checked a fraud box for licensed reps); (2) it was done with reckless disregard (didn’t matter what your case was, you got this boxed checked if licensed and questioned); (3) it placed the plaintiff in a false light (Fidelity contacted all these retailers alleging fraud with no proof, to get receipts, and with said receipts placed all plaintiffs in a false light to prospective employers by checking said fraud box); and (4) it would be highly offensive or embarrassing to a reasonable person (a judge will agree these actions are highly offensive and professionally embarrassing)

Go talk with a Federal judge, there is a case. Fidelity can’t stop real fraud with clients, so they run over there own employees to try and save face. Will blow up on them.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/fidelity-fined-1-3-million-for-failing-to-prevent-fraud-1450456152

You file suit against Apple for lack of data privacy and Fidelity for defamation.

Most attorneys look at this case through the lense of wrongful termination and pass. You have to specifically seek an attorney with experience in data privacy and defamation that is licensed in the state in which you reside.

Now it makes sense why the troll was adamant Fidelity never had any receipts. Troll should have shut their mouth.

Anyone see the Tim Cook speech to Duke grads today about how important data privacy is?!?

Has anyone already reached out to a firm and received some positive reactions to their situation?

Exactly below on the Apple relationship and Best Buy with the Stock Plan Relationship. This is a big deal.

Apple privacy page talks about sharing information with business partners.

Yes, it all depends on you situation. Seek further guidance from an employment attorney with a background in financial services in the state in which you reside.

So has anyone reached out to a lawyer to see if this is worth looking into?

I think without a shadow of a doubt, there are some serious "false light" claims to be had against Fidelity...read below.

Invasion of Privacy

Let's say you accidentally leave a personal letter containing private information on a public park bench, and that letter is picked up and read by someone else. Even if the sharing of this information damages your reputation or causes other harm, it is not a violation of your privacy. That requires a "reasonable expectation of privacy", which would apply if the letter was not left out in public. But if you're having a private conversation in your home and a neighbor uses an electronic device to eavesdrop (and this causes injury), then your expectation of privacy has been violated.

An invasion of privacy occurs when there is an intrusion upon your reasonable expectation to be left alone. This article covers the four main types of invasion of privacy claims, an intentional tort primarily controlled by state laws.

The four main types of invasion of privacy claims are:

Intrusion of Solitude

Appropriation of Name or Likeness

Public Disclosure of Private Facts

False Light

1. Intrusion of Solitude

Intruding upon another's solitude or private affairs is subject to liability if the intrusion is considered highly offensive to a reasonable person. This tort is often associated with "peeping Toms," someone illegally intercepting private phone calls, or snooping through someone's private records.

Taking photographs of someone in public wouldn't count; however, using a long- range camera to take photos of someone inside their home would qualify. Making a few unsolicited telephone calls may not constitute a privacy invasion, but calling repeatedly after being asked to stop would.

Example: A man with binoculars regularly climbs a tree in his yard and watches a woman across the street undress through her bathroom window.

1. Appropriation of Name or Likeness

Plaintiffs may make a claim for damages if an individual (or company) uses their name or likeness for benefit without their permission. Usually this involves a business using a celebrity's name or likeness in an advertisement. Some states even limit this type of privacy tort to commercial uses.

This is not always the case. For example, a private detective who impersonates someone else to obtain confidential information has invaded that person's privacy. The recognition of this tort is like a property right; in other words, a person's name and likeness is treated as that person's property. For celebrities, this is often referred to as "right of publicity".

Example: An advertising agency approached musician Tom Waits to participate in a campaign for a new automobile. Waits, who has a distinctive and easily recognizable voice, declined. The advertisers hired someone who sounds like him to do the soundtrack, prompting Waits to sue the automaker for appropriating his likeness.

1. Public Disclosure of Private Facts

This type of invasion of privacy claim must be weighed against the First Amendment's protection of free speech. Unlike defamation (libel or slander), truth of the disclosed information isn't a defense. If an individual publicly reveals truthful information that is not of public concern and which a reasonable person would find offensive if made public, they could be liable for damages.

For example, a woman about to deliver a baby via caesarian section agrees to allow the operation to be filmed for educational purposes only, but instead it's shown to the public in a commercial theater. This is an invasion of her privacy. However, publishing an article about a politician known for his family values who is having an affair with a staffer is of public concern and therefore not an invasion of his privacy. Some states including New York don't recognize this type of claim.

Example: The maiden name of a former prostitute who was acquitted of murder was revealed in a film about the case. Since the trial, she had moved to another city, gotten married and adopted a new lifestyle. Her new friends were unaware of her past, so the disclosure of this true but embarrassing information was deemed an invasion of her privacy.

1. False Light

A false light claim is similar to a defamation claim in that it allows an individual to sue for the public disclosure of information that is misleading (or puts that person in a "false light"), but not technically false. The key difference is that defamation claims only apply to the public broadcasting of false information and as with defamation, sometimes First Amendment protections prevail.

Generally, a false light claim must contain the following elements: (1) the defendant made a publication about the plaintiff; (2) it was done with reckless disregard; (3) it placed the plaintiff in a false light; and (4) it would be highly offensive or embarrassing to a reasonable person.

Example: A 96-year-old woman sued an Arkansas newspaper for printing her picture next to the headline, "Special Delivery: World's oldest newspaper carrier, 101, quits because she's pregnant!" The woman, who was not pregnant, was awarded damages of $1.5 million.

Link: https://injury.findlaw.com/torts-and-personal-injuries/invasion-of-privacy.html

Fidelity didn't just call 800 Apple and get some random service rep. Fidelity record keeps their 401k. Fidelity easily could have used these relationships with retailers to get whatever the hell they want under the guise of fraud. I am sure Apple would be more than happy with Fidelity to be served by former Fidelity employees for invasion of privacy.

I sent an email to Apple to ask if this constitutes some privacy issue. I'll post with whatever they respond.

Apple idiots.

If you were fired, please contact apple or Best Buy to alert them of fraudulent behavior from fidelity. There is no way a third party should be able to get copies of return receipts.

I wonder if someone who was fired has the option of going after Best Buy or apple for violating their terms of service.

The "investigator" previously stated in a post that Fidelity contacted these company's, alleged they had uncovered "fraud", asked for return receipts, and these retailers just turned over the receipts. No way in hell all 200+ cases are fraud. I don't care what attorney put their stamp on that, its the same as stamping Enron's debt AAA.

I contacted Best Buy privacy and asked how this does not violate their policy and for this response:

I apologize for the inconvenience. As far as I know, we don't provide information to third parties without permission from customers.

Amazon guy, this is not designed to scare you, two of the main motives of these threads are to get the true story out, and protect those that still have a chance. Get out on Monday! They will fire you for fraud at some point, and if by some miracle they somehow lost your submission, do you really want to work for them after this? GET OUT!

It has been going to sh*t since Abby took over.

Man if you know you did something they would deem wrong, just start looking for a job. Place is probably going to sh-- anyway.

If I were you, and a sole breadwinner of the family, I would start looking for a new job now. With a fraud designation on your liscence, good luck supporting your family.

I have only seen one quick reference that Amazon was part of this but no one (that I've seen) has specifically said that they had a receipt from them. Best Buy and Apple I have seen stories on this forum. Can anyone confirm that they were let go and the investigators had a receipt from Amazon? Or point me to the thread that it was said? Best Buy and Apple you can get the order information and status just from going on their site and acting as a guest but not Amazon.

I bought something from Amazon a while back, returned it and got something from a different store. I have the receipt and item still but sounds like it won't matter so hoping to understand this. Will still be living in fear based on the stories I read but might ease my mind a little.

I can understand why Fidelity started this mess, the original stuff was absolute fraud but the line they are drawing is just amazingly unfair. Not everyone that returned their fitbit to save $10 on a better deal somewhere else should be getting let go. I have been extremely happy working with Fidelity up until now. Now I am paranoid at all times thinking I am going to get cat-walked out at any moment. I am the sole provider for my family. My wife and kids depend on me. I can't believe the lie I have been apparently living with how content I was working for them. I guess I need to find a new job with a new company before I get called in and my career ends. Unbelievable...

yes, They also showed me a copy of my Best Buy return receipt that i went into the store to buy and return. I took my original computer back because I decided to get a different one. I took it back to Best Buy and bought my new one at Costco. I believe Costco may may have told them no when they asked for return information. I know this because they asked for me to provide evidence to show I purchased a new computer. This was still not enough to keep my job.

I’m definitely not saying which company , but I wonder if apple, Best Buy or amazon violated their privacy policies by providing this information to Fidelity. What right does fidelity have to access customer information?

They were ripped off by scammers. Got mad. Then got shady and stupid. It’s all going to come out someday.

Which company was this?

I contacted one place I returned items about security concerns and got this response:

Our customer service teams have rigorous verification processes and policies in place to make sure that the the correct owner of that information is accessing it. Rest assured that your information is safe and you and only you will be able to access it.

Well stated my former colleague, I could not have stated it any better. Heartless.

Say what you will about the employees who "stole"... Fidelity mishandled this. These people are humans who make mistakes. For Fidelity to terminate everyone like this was heartless. There were instances that were unintentional and inconsistent with who they were. They have families to support and many wouldn't gamble for a couple hundred dollars. I personally am ok if that place burns to the ground. People dedicated themselves for years and years and the way that the internal investigators treated some of the employees was embarrassing. Fidelity dropped the ball themselves by not monitoring their own damn programs and as soon as they do, they lay the hammer. Thats just not how it should be. I can say for a fact there were people that actually did pay it back before they were brought in by the investigators but still were terminated because it wasn't in a timely manner. So it just goes to show you that their intentions was always to terminate.