Safeguard Your Identity: Protect Yourself With A Personal Privacy Audit (Paperback)

~ (Author) "When a woman I never knew took my identity in 1996, I was terrified..." (more)
Key Phrases: personal privacy audit, privacy protection plan, identity theft victims, Federal Trade Commission, Secret Service, Fair Credit Reporting Act (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book will show you how to greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft. Although no one can promise that you won’t be victimized, because your personal information is readily available on myriad databases, the information in this book gives you the expertise to evaluate your own privacy risks and identity theft exposure so you will determine the changes you need to make in your daily life. The user friendly guide with bullet point easy to follow steps will serve as your "personal privacy audit" to establish your strategy to shield you from the epidemic of identity theft. You’ll learn: • The insidious tricks fraudsters use • How you can be targeted • How businesses and agencies expose you to risks • How businesses themselves become victimized • How our society and this information age facilitates this crime • The detailed immediate actions to take today to formidably defend yourself, your family, your workplace or your own business from the exposure to fraud. • Successful tools for guarding yourself at home, at work, on vacation, while shopping, in business situations and when using your computer and other technology. • How to take the 20 crucial steps to get your life back, if you are victimized. • Straightforward positive steps to gain peace of mind and ensure your most valuable asset, your identity! "In today's world, information is gold, and this book is about building your own Fort Knox. Just like good privacy laws, Safeguard your Identity puts consumers in control of their personal information. It's a consumer survival guide and emergency action plan that spells out easy-to-follow steps for both avoiding and recovering from ID theft. Truly essential reading."

California State Senator Jackie Speier, author of the California Financial Information Privacy Act, Sacramento CA.

From the Publisher

Identity Theft is an epidemic in this country, but we felt that rather than frightening the public, we believed it is important to give our readers practical and powerful ways to protect their identity and privacy. The Foreword to this book by the Director of the Identity Theft Resource Center, gives you insight as to why you must have this guide.Please read below.

"If you have this book in hand, you are probably concerned about Safeguarding Your Identity- and you should be! In 1997 I became a victim of identity theft when my employer stole my identity. Back then, there was little information about identity theft victimization, in fact few people even knew what I was talking about.

Thankfully Mari Frank did. As a former victim herself, and self-taught expert on this crime, she spent time advising me through the process. I don’t know what I would have done without her support over the years. As a result of my experience, and with Mari’s encouragement, my husband and I founded the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). Along with Ms. Frank and other consumer groups we serve thousands of victims throughout our country nationally. We have been honored to sit beside Mari on committees, in legislative hearings and on taskforces that have changed laws. Jointly, we have promoted more sensitivity toward victims, more accountability in the financial industry, better understanding from law enforcements, and positive communication among the various groups that need to work collaboratively.

No one can promise you that you can absolutely prevent identity theft victimization, but this book will help you understand this crime, and help you greatly minimize your risk. Identity theft needs to be tackled on many levels. It requires that everyone becomes keenly aware of the manner in which information is stolen, how it used, and ways to reduce risk. This book will show you how to defend yourself as an individual, employee, consumer and a business manager or owner.

As you read through this book, you'll see that much of the advice will affect you at home as well as in commerce. The true battle will be fought in the business world since Corporate America is the main repository for much of our personal information. For example, you will read that it is vital to shred paper documents with identifying information and not just to put them in a dumpster or trash. It is clear that this practice should be embraced by consumers and businesses alike.

While at first glance, you'll look at this personal privacy audit and it might seem that you need to make many lifestyle changes. However, when you consider the consequences, and take just a few pages at a time, you will probably find they can be easily accomplished with minimal effort.

Identity theft is a fact in this information age. We cannot escape that it is an epidemic. We cannot become ostriches and bury our heads in the sand. However, we also don’t have to be trapped by our fear of this crime. Once you read this book, you will understand this crime, and how to incorporate protection measures into your daily life. You'll even learn the steps to take if you fall victim. You will also realize that even if you become a victim, it is not a death sentence. This book and Mari's other newly revised book From Victim to Victor: A Step By Step Guide to Ending the Nightmare of Identity Theft will help you guard yourself, and give you the tools you need to get your life back if you become a victim of this crime.

Safeguard Your Identity: Protect Yourself with a Personal Privacy Audit is a book that should not sit on a shelf. I recommend you place it where you will read it page by page and apply and incorporate the suggestions. We guarantee that with each reading you will find one more tip or piece of information you haven't thought about and need to implement for your privacy protection plan.

The Identity Theft Resource Center would not exist without the groundwork and support of people like Mari Frank. We consider her our friend, and we are proud to have her wise counsel as a member of our Advisory Board. Because of her expertise as attorney, professional trainer, and sheriff reserve, we cannot think of a better person to write this book. Mari will effectively guide you on your journey through the world of safeguarding your identity. "

Linda Foley
Executive Director, The Identity Theft Resource Center

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Porpoise Press (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892126060
• ISBN-13: 978-1892126061
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #836,588 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for protecting yourself in the information world, March 14, 2005

By	Graduate Student (Williamstown, MA) - See all my reviews

Mari Frank's book is a great step-by-step guide for preventing identity theft and protecting your personal information from misuse. And for those, like me, who have already had their identity stolen, "Safeguard" can be an excellent tool for rebuilding your life.

Frank is an expert in the field of identity protection, who combines the experience of a triumphant victim and the knowledge of a seasoned attorney. But she writes in a style that is easily understood and enjoyable to read.

Highly recommended for everyone.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this!, March 14, 2005

By	Anne in California - See all my reviews

Identity theft is a scary situation! This book is a complete guide to protecting your identity. The book is well-organized, the explanations and instructions are clear, and there is a great list of further resources. Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Safeguarding My Identity, March 20, 2007

By	J.M.J - See all my reviews

So far this book is informative and exposes alot of things that one may not think of. I'm glad that I will have this book on hand should I need help in this situation.