50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit: Everything You Need to Know About Identity Theft, Credit Cards, Credit Repair, and Credit Reports (Paperback)

by Steve Weisman (Author) "Maybe Shakespeare was right when he said in Othello, "Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; but he that filches from me my..." (more)
Key Phrases: reporting senior officer, tainted accounts, credit counseling industry, Social Security, Federal Trade Commission, Diners Club (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

From Kirkus Reports, February 10, 2005 Vol.2/Issue 1

50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit: Everything You Need to Know About Identity Theft, Credit Cards, Credit Repair, and Credit Reports
By: Steve Weisman
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Pub Date: January 2005

Identity theft and bad credit–two of the most feared byproducts of the information age, and subjects about which few really understand. Weisman offers reassurance in the form of 50 steps that will guard against both of these modern perils. The points of vulnerability are familiar by now: social-security number, credit cards, computer spyware. Weisman addresses each of these weak spots in turn, and lays out the measures required for effective defense. Even if the suggestions arrive too late to prevent identity theft, he still offers advice on what to do next–get an ID Theft Affidavit from the FTC, file a report with the police, and so on. For those more interested in protecting financial status, Weisman describes techniques for using credit cards wisely, as well as researching all the inherent fine print. He goes on to explain credit counseling and credit repair, rendered fully in clear terminology. Clever headlines and highlighted tips will keep you moving through each one of Weisman’s helpful hints

Product Description
The world of credit is fraught with peril. First, there's the enormous and growing risk of identity theft, which victimized nearly 10 million Americans in 2003 alone. But the quieter risks are just as real: inaccurate credit reports that drive up your interest rates or prevent you from getting loans, fine print in credit agreements that can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, 'credit repair' services that only make matters worse. In 25 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit, consumer finance expert and nationally syndicated radio host Steve Weisman tells you exactly what to watch out for, and how to keep credit disasters from happening to you. Writing in plain English, Weisman reveals how criminals gain access to your credit, bank, or brokerage accounts, open new accounts and take out loans in your name, and how to use the law, technology, and common sense to protect yourself. You'll learn how to recognize 'phishing' scams and dishonest credit counselors, how to understand and eliminate the hidden costs of credit, and much more. Weisman's checklists tell you what to do right now, before you're victimized. And if you've already been attacked, Weisman presents step-by-step techniques, form letters, and affidavits you can use to help restore your credit -- and your good name.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall (January 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 013146759X
• ISBN-13: 978-0131467590
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #662,032 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Home Security System , June 19, 2005

By	John G. Hilliard (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is not the feel good book of the summer, it almost scares the pants off of you given the many different ways faceless criminals can rudely interrupt your life with identity theft. This book details out many of the identity theft scams that are prevalent today. It shows you, maybe in a way that is a touch over the top, just how vulnerable you are. On the positive side it also gives you the tools to fight back and the steps you can take to protect yourself. It also instructs you on what you can do if you become an identity theft victim. The book details out how the world of credit operates and your rights and responsibilities.

The current world we live in enables us to be discriminated against in the credit world because of our age, gender or marital status. The privacy of our financial information may be compromised and is so widely disseminated that it is making it more and more vulnerable to identity theft all the time. That is why this book is important, it gives the reader some tools to help us remain safe or at least less vulnerable. Overall the author gives the reader a number of useful and well described tips for how to keep as safe as possible and how to fix problems if they come up. It is a bit on the dramatic side, but if you are a victim of this type of crime then the descriptions are probably right on the mark.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good reasonable information, May 1, 2006

By	Archie C. Kramer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Level headed approach to handle a problem that could be desaterous.

The book is easy to read and follow the steps for protection from and recovery of damaged credit.