Identity Theft Secrets

Criminal masterminds like Bernie Madoff and stage magicians like David Copperfield have relied upon carefully crafted "artful dodges" to deceive their target audiences over the years and achieve their desired results-fraud or entertainment. Now, Identity Theft Secrets peels back the curtain of mystery that allows criminals to steal our most precious resources-our financial assets and reputation. Minimize your vulnerabilities and maximize your defenses using the strategies provided by author and expert Dale Penn, who comes to the subject with a unique background in insurance and risk-management training as well as personal experience fighting financial crime. You can protect your family, your business, and your credit rating through thoughtful, effective preparation. With clarity and vivid detail, Identity Theft Secrets will explain how you can - identify and secure the private information that thieves want most; - isolate areas of your life or business that need enhanced privacy protection; - close personal security loopholes that are still leaving you vulnerable; - secure the wireless technology devices that you depend on most; - create a plan to safeguard or restore your most valued private information and maintain a personal information safety zone; - navigate the Internet without the constant fear of malicious attacks. Learn to protect yourself, your business, and your loved ones from painful financial fraud; Identity Theft Secrets will show you how. "Dale Penn demystifies identity theft. This book is not just an easy read; it is a must read!" -Deborah Call, Associate Dean, USC School of Law

Convict tells all in this non-fiction book on Identity Theft. What is the one thing that we as Americans do everyday without giving much thought too, but can cause us and will cause us to become victim to Identity Theft & Fraud? First ever non-fiction book written with in-depth details on how criminals really obtain and use your identifying information. Ever wondered why this crime isn't really being stopped? Well this book will give you the exact answers to this question.

AN EDGAR AWARDS 2020 WINNER AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER In this powerful true crime memoir, an award-winning identity theft expert tells the shocking story of the duplicity and betrayal that inspired her career and nearly destroyed her family. Axton Betz-Hamilton grew up in small-town Indiana in the early '90s. When she was 11 years old, her parents both had their identities stolen. Their credit ratings were ruined, and they were constantly fighting over money. This was before the age of the Internet, when identity theft became more commonplace, so authorities and banks were clueless and reluctant to help Axton's parents. Axton's family changed all of their personal information and moved to different addresses, but the identity thief followed them wherever they went. Convinced that the thief had to be someone they knew, Axton and her parents completely cut off the outside world, isolating themselves from friends and family. Axton learned not to let anyone into the house without explicit permission, and once went as far as chasing a plumber off their property with a knife. As a result, Axton spent her formative years crippled by anxiety, quarantined behind the closed curtains in her childhood home. She began starving herself at a young age in an effort to blend in--her appearance could be nothing short of perfect or she would be scolded by her mother, who had become paranoid and consumed by how others perceived the family. Years later, her parents' marriage still shaken from the theft, Axton discovered that she, too, had fallen prey to the identity thief, but by the time she realized, she was already thousands of dollars in debt and her credit was ruined. The Less People Know About Us is Axton's attempt to untangle an intricate web of lies, and to understand why and how a loved one could have inflicted such pain. Axton will present a candid, shocking, and redemptive story and reveal her courageous effort to grapple with someone close that broke the unwritten rules of love, protection, and family.

AN EDGAR AWARDS 2020 WINNER AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER In this powerful true crime memoir, an award-winning identity theft expert tells the shocking story of the duplicity and betrayal that inspired her career and nearly destroyed her family. Axton Betz-Hamilton grew up in small-town Indiana in the early '90s. When she was 11 years old, her parents both had their identities stolen. Their credit ratings were ruined, and they were constantly fighting over money. This was before the age of the Internet, when identity theft became more commonplace, so authorities and banks were clueless and reluctant to help Axton's parents. Axton's family changed all of their personal information and moved to different addresses, but the identity thief followed them wherever they went. Convinced that the thief had to be someone they knew, Axton and her parents completely cut off the outside world, isolating themselves from friends and family. Axton learned not to let anyone into the house without explicit permission, and once went as far as chasing a plumber off their property with a knife. As a result, Axton spent her formative years crippled by anxiety, quarantined behind the closed curtains in her childhood home. She began starving herself at a young age in an effort to blend in--her appearance could be nothing short of perfect or she would be scolded by her mother, who had become paranoid and consumed by how others perceived the family. Years later, her parents' marriage still shaken from the theft, Axton discovered that she, too, had fallen prey to the identity thief, but by the time she realized, she was already thousands of dollars in debt and her credit was ruined. The Less People Know About Us is Axton's attempt to untangle an intricate web of lies, and to understand why and how a loved one could have inflicted such pain. Axton will present a candid, shocking, and redemptive story and reveal her courageous effort to grapple with someone close that broke the unwritten rules of love, protection, and family.

Filled with fascinating stories, this is an eye-opening look at the private investigation business and how vulnerable we all are to information and identity thieves.

Practical solutions to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft In 2008, 9.9 million Americans became victims of identity theft. The cost exceeded $48 billion in 2008; consumers spend some $5 billion out-of-pocket each year to clear up resulting fraud issues. This guide will help keep you from becoming the next victim. Written by a veteran security professional, Identity Theft For Dummies gives you the tools to recognize what information is vulnerable, minimize your risk, stay safe online, and practice damage control if your identity is compromised. If you have a name, a date of birth, and a Social Security number, you're a potential victim; this book helps you recognize your risk and defend against identity thieves Explains what identity theft is, how it happens, and how to recognize if you have become a victim Shows how to protect your personal information, how to be discreet in public places, how to interpret your credit report, and why you should monitor your financial statements Helps you recognize risks you may not have considered, such as what you set at the curb on trash day Provides advice on how to clear your name if you are victimized Identity Theft For Dummies arms you to fight back against this growing threat.

Another all-new Nancy Drew adventure - she's got a new look, a new car, some new friends, and loads of new cases to crack!

What is America’s top-rank crime concern? Identity theft. According to a 2009 Gallup Crime survey, 66 percent of U.S. adults say they worry “frequently” or “occasionally” about being a victim of identity theft. Why is the percentage of adults concerned with identity theft more than three times greater than the percentage concerned with “being sexually assaulted” or “getting murdered”? Similar to the identity theft crime itself, there is not a simple answer. Identity theft is a perfect storm: it affects many people, everyone is a potential target, there are substantial negative consequences, few truly understand the crime, and trusted sources disseminate information and products that can mislead, not help, the victim. It is comparable to driving your car without a door (and having no other options). You feel exposed, vulnerable and you know the consequences of a side impact are devastating; yet, you have no other option. The reality is you do have options to protect yourself, andThe Official Identity Theft Prevention Handbookis here to teach you them. The Official Identity Theft Prevention Handbookis the first book to analyze identity theft in its proper context and provide takeaways to minimize the likelihood that you will be harmed by identity theft and to mitigate the negative consequences in the event that you've become a victim. Identity theft continues to proliferate, and it is tearing the fabric of our society. All understand it is important, but compelling people to take appropriate action is a challenge.The Official Identity Theft Prevention Handbookprovides a tremendous first step towards individual and societal responsibility. We can swing the pendulum in the other direction. In the case of identity theft, the best defense is a good offense.