Identity Theft And How To Protect Yourself

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in North America-it is an epidemic. They can steal your identity, your money, and your valuable assets. This book describes all of the common schemes, techniques, and technology used by criminals to commit identity theft and fraud.

Protect yourself from identity theft! Nearly 17 million Americans were victimized by identity theft in 2012 alone: for 13 straight years, it has been America's #1 consumer crime. No one is immune: children, the elderly and even the dead have been victimized. Identity theft can be high-tech, low-tech, or even no tech, via "dumpster diving." You're vulnerable, and you need to act. Fortunately, you can take practical steps to safeguard your identity right now. In Identity Theft Alert, award-winning author and attorney Steve Weisman shows you exactly what to do, and how to do it. Equally important, he also tells you what to stop doing: the common, inadvertent behaviors that could be setting you up as a victim. Weisman starts with a clear-eyed assessment of the problem, helping you understand just how much risk you face. Next, he helps you understand, anticipate, and prevent all these frightening forms of identity theft: Identity theft via Facebook and other social media Identity theft via your iPhone or Android smartphone Theft of your credit or debit cards, and other access to your finances Crime sprees performed in your name Medical identity theft that could lead to you getting the wrong treatment – and could even kill you The fast-growing scourge of income tax identity theft, including stolen refunds Don't be the next victim: read this book, follow its step-by-step advice, and protect yourself!

Publisher Description

It could happen when you make a routine withdrawal from an ATM, respond to an e-mail asking for information about an online account, or leave a new box of checks unattended in your mailbox. Identity theft is one of the easiest crimes to commit in America—and one of the hardest to prosecute. As thieves become increasingly clever, Americans have more reasons than ever to fear this elusive, ubiquitous crime. Now there’s a book to help you beat it. In two easy-to-understand sections, Terri Cullen, The Wall Street Journal’s expert on identity theft, first walks you through the most common types of identity theft and how to arm yourself against them, and then leads victims step-by-step through the process of reclaiming a stolen identity. The average victim loses more than $6,000 and spends approximately 600 hours negotiating the complex bureaucracies and paperwork—this book will help save time and effort by laying out the process. And by following the advice in the first half, you may never need the second! You’ll learn: • how to avoid the most common scams, from “phishing” to “dumpster diving” • why children under eighteen are the fastest-growing target, and how you can protect your family • why your credit report is the single most important document for protecting your identity • how to use the sample letters, forms, and other useful tools inside for recovering from identity theft In today’s marketplace, your two most valuable assets are your credit and your identity. No one should be without this vital guide to protecting them.

In this book, expert Mari Frank, attorney, privacy advisor, and former victim of identity theft, shows you how to greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of "identity theft."

Identity theft is a horrifying and traumatic experience. It's easy to imagine the frustration at being wrongly denied a credit card or loan. Worse are the sleepless nights after threatening phone calls from creditors anxious to retrieve cash loaned in your name. It can also be much more serious. Identity theft is linked to organised crime in illegal immigration and human trafficking, drug couriers and money laundering - for these criminals, identity theft is a way of avoiding detection. Home Office figures estimate that identity fraud costs the UK economy GBP 1.72 billion pounds a year. It is a growth industry that affects everyone. If you have never been the victim of identity theft, count yourself lucky. But luck is not enough. This book is essential reading for everyone, as we are all potential victims. Learn how to protect yourself against it, how to spot the warning signs and what to do if you think someone may have stolen your identity.

Identity theft is the UK's fastest growing crime. It affects individuals, government departments and private sector organisations and is estimated already to be costing the UK economy around GBP 2 billion per annum.With just a few of your personal details, criminals can open bank accounts, claim benefits, obtain credit cards, loans and mortgages and apply for passports and driving licences - all in your name. They can also gain access to your existing accounts and if you become a victim, you may be blacklisted by financial providers until the situation is fully resolved.Reclaiming your identity and restoring your financial status can be lengthy, time consuming and emotionally draining. Your identity is an extremely valuable commodity that should be safeguarded at all times but many people are unaware about how to fully protect themselves.This book gives thorough, practical, help and advice about how to protect your identity. It contains valuable guidance on what to do if your identity is stolen, and where to get further assistance. AUTHOR BIOG: Matthew Record is an experienced media researcher and successful author. He was driven to research the subject of identity theft to protect himself and his family from what has quickly become the UK's fastest growing crime. During his research he realised that there was not a single comprehensive source to find out about what identity theft is, how to protect yourself or what to do if you become a victim. His book seeks to address the balance by providing a comprehensive and practical guide to protecting you from identity theft and its damaging consequences. CONTENTS: 1. What is identity theft? 2. Protecting yourself 3. Keeping your computer safe 4. Using the internet safely 5. Identifying if you are a victim 6. Reporting identity theft Jargon buster Useful addresses Useful indentity fraud protection websites Index.