Protecting Your Identity - Book review by Maggie Woods

“We’ve all read about Identity Theft.
But what exactly is it and how do we
prevent it? Protecting Your Identity:
A Practical Guide to Preventing Identity
Theft and its Damaging Consequences
by Matthew Record will help you to
understand this very real threat, and
advise you of the steps you can take
to protect yourself...”

YOU'RE THE VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT — somebody has run up debts in your name. How could they do it and, more importantly, could you have stopped it happening?

Protecting Your Identity: A Practical Guide to Preventing Identity Theft and its Damaging Consequences contains vital information about identity theft and will show you how you can protect yourself from being a victim of this modern phenomenon that is the UK's fastest growing crime. It is an in-depth, comprehensive guide that everybody should read and act upon.

There are different types of Identity crimes of which Identity Theft is one. Current estimates put the cost to the UK economy at Ł2 billion per annum and it affects individuals, government departments and private sector organisations. The book goes into the different types of Identify Crime, including Identity Theft, False Identity Theft, Identity Fraud and Corporate Identity Crime and explains how your personal information can be used.

Protecting Your Identity warns you that 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. And 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. There are, of course, moves in place to tackle those crimes and the controversial identity cards will be issued from 2009.

One of the dangers is that those who make machines to clone credit cards are now familiar with chip-and-pin, but raising awareness is an important part of Identity Theft and it pays to be careful when using your credit card, not letting it out of your sight — not even for a few seconds.

The book includes information about National Identity Fraud Prevention Week and draws attention to the Home Office leaflet Identity Theft — Don't Become A Victim. There are useful websites and helpful victims' stories.

Other pertinent information includes where to get further assistance, dealing with spam, using the Internet safely, reporting email scams and useful addresses for reducing unsolicited communications — the Telephone Preference Service; Mail Preference Service and Fax Preference Service. There is also a list of ten steps to check that you are not a victim of identity theft and what to do if you find you are.

Protecting Your Identity contains the following: 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. There is also a section for Jargon Busting (for example, do you know what Smurfing is? It's processing multiple financial transactions that are just below the threshold level to be reported to the authorities) along with a list of useful identity fraud protection websites.

Thorough, practical help and advice is available within the pages of Protecting Your Identity — not just on how to protect yourself but also what to do if you fall victim to the crime of identity theft. A 'must read' for everybody.

• Protecting Your Identity: A Practical Guide to Preventing Identity Theft and its Damaging Consequences is written by Matthew Record, published by How To Books and is available now in paperback from all good booksellers. 178 Pages | List Price: Ł8.99/Online Price: Ł7.64 | ISBN: 9781845282530.

"Protecting Your Identity: A Practical Guide to Preventing Identity Theft and its Damaging Consequences contains vital information about identity theft and will show you how you can protect yourself from being a victim of this modern phenomenon that is the UK's fastest growing crime. It is an in-depth, comprehensive guide that everybody should read and act upon" — MotorBar

About the Author

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 exactly 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 yourself from identity theft and its damaging consequences.

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