People Get Screwed All the Time: Protecting Yourself From Scams, Fraud, Identity Theft, Fine Print, and More [Hardcover]

Robert Massi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 2007

What would you do if you were accused and arrested for a crime that you didn't commit? How about if you realized that you'd just been scammed for thousands of dollars? What about if, due to a circumstance as unavoidable as having the same name as a criminal, your credit rating kept you from buying a house or a car, or getting a loan for college? Most people trust that everything will work out and assume that the government will help them if trouble arises. However, Robert Massi reveals what the government doesn't want you to know-daily life and decisions are fraught with potential danger, and government mismanagement often has disastrous consequences for innocent, law-abiding citizens. Familiar to viewers as a national TV legal analyst, Robert Massi has heard countless stories of well-intentioned individuals getting caught up in damaging situations that they didn't see coming. Nonetheless, the most frustrating part of these heartaches is that they could-and should-have been avoided. Massi will share some of these astonishing stories of real people-and then he'll show you how to learn from these mishaps. Touching on everything from dodging identity theft to starting a business, People Get Screwed All the Time explains how to avoid falling for scams, getting entrenched in endless legal battles, and inadvertently ending up on the wrong side of the law. Also, if worse comes to worst, it provides unbeatable tips for how to extract yourself from a wide variety of sticky situations. By suggesting small steps that can be taken today, People Get Screwed All the Time helps you to avert catastrophe tomorrow. Calling for action and awareness, this is a vital and eye-opening handbook that proves that ignorance is anything but bliss.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Massi, a legal analyst for Fox News Channel, is a practicing attorney in Las Vegas. He is the host of the syndicated radio talk show A Layman's Guide to the Law, as well as of the television program Inside the Law. He also launched the program Due Process, which is devoted to educating people about constitutional law. In addition, he founded The Conscience of America, an organization dedicated to improving the way ordinary citizens are treated by the legal system. Todd McLaren was involved in radio for more than twenty years in cities on both coasts, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He left broadcasting for a full-time career in voice-overs, where he has been heard on more than 5,000 TV and radio commercials, as well as TV promos; narrations for documentaries on such networks as A&E, Discovery, and the History Channel; and films, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From AudioFile

Heres a powerful legal guide to protecting your financial interests from criminal and bureaucratic abuse. Todd McLaren reads with enormous vocal skill and a sense of urgency that stays fresh and effective. The alarming abuses described by personal rights attorney Massi lead smoothly to his recommendations on preventing and repairing problems. Its a near perfect audio that is cleverly organized: The alarming narratives make listeners more alert to the authors clear and pointed advice. Not all the disaster scenarios will apply to everyone, but for most listeners the overall effect of this discussion will be to increase the caution, judgment, preparation, and common sense they apply to managing their affairs. T.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (May 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061145874
• ISBN-13: 978-0061145872
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,514,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly weird approach to explaining common legal problems, October 2, 2007

By 

Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: People Get Screwed All the Time: Protecting Yourself From Scams, Fraud, Identity Theft, Fine Print, and More (Hardcover)

Robert Massi is a fixture on FoxNews, appearing often as a "legal analyst". I'm not a lawyer, but Massi's explanations have left me scratching my head more than once. Often it seems Massi is just filling time without much regard for what he's saying - and not much thought either. He's not dumb - he just seems way to willing to express an opinion on legal matters without thorough consideration of the facts.

In "Peopld Get Screwed All The Time", Massi writes of "real people" who run afoul in one way or another of the law. They also seem to be quite a collection of losers who could qualify for leading roles if Woody Allen ever does a remake of "Broadway Danny Rose", a movie about an agent who represents really weird performers.

Ostensibly, Massi is writing about "Potecting Yourself from Scams, Fraud, Identity Theft, Fine Print, and More". In truth, it seems Massi is simply trying to exploit his minimal fame as a television talking head.

The people, allegedly real, are apparently dumber than bricks. For example, we have one individual who doesn't do anything when fraudulent charges start showing up on his credit card account. For another man, Massi says "[t]he easiest lesson to learn from Milton's story is not to cheat on your wife", after the guy's wife left him and the new girlfriend also left him broke with a massive pile of debt. Of course, Milton didn't bother looking at his credit card bills and "would not have been surprised by Rachel's excessive spending - over $50,000 worth - or that she had failed to pay the monthly bills". In other words, Milton like all of Massi's other subjects is a jerk who put himself in his own misery.

Massi ends each chapter with a "How I would have counseled" the person. It's really bland stuff. Say, Milton, don't cheat on your wife and get her angry enough to leave you and don't be too quick to give the honey you just met full access to all your credit cards and not look at the bills.

On the whole this is a silly book. Massi describes a bunch of not very bright people who get ensnared in the kinds of situations not very bright people find themselves in. It is highly unlikely that such people are going to buy this book before they get themselves into trouble - and nothing in this book will help them out of their troubles.

On the whole, save your money and don't bother with this title.

Jerry

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it, March 21, 2009

By 

S. L. Moresi (Cordova, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: People Get Screwed All the Time: Protecting Yourself From Scams, Fraud, Identity Theft, Fine Print, and More (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book (on CD), although it wasn't what I expected. I thought one or two chapters were dull (it may've been the identity theft one) but the stories about custody, frivilous accusations, etc. were interesting, kind of funny but then not, and did expose some failings of our legal/justice system that routinely surprise people (generally at a large cost). I think anyone, and there are many, who suddenly realizes that his or her situation may now actually benefit from or require a lawyer would relate to these stories and the author's point that things really shouldn't be this way. I have recommended it to others and given a copy as a gift. I think it's worth reading (or listening to).

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Reference "Must Have", May 21, 2008

By 

Ronald A. Butcher - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: People Get Screwed All the Time: Protecting Yourself From Scams, Fraud, Identity Theft, Fine Print, and More (Hardcover)

Robert Massi takes his detailed and understandable Fox Network legal analysis to print in this handbook for survival in the 21st Century. Mr. Massi is, first and foremost, a teacher and his explanations and guidance are invaluable to avoiding the modern day beartraps that effect so many. An engaging read that untangles those legal nightmares of modern scams. If you only have one book in your personal library, this should be it.