Personal Finance: Identity Theft
ALA Recommended Books
50 Ways to Protect Your Identity in a Digital Age by
It is better to stop identity theft from happening in the first place than have to fix or repair the situation afterwards. Steve Weisman reveals the threats of new identity theft attacks based on use of Facebook, iPad, iPhone, Android, cloud apps, iPod, and other new technologies -- and shows you how to protect yourself, or how to fix the damage if you've already been attacked! Discover why ID theft is more dangerous than ever, and discover today's most dangerous new threats -- including attacks targeting medical records, personal finance and online banking sites, the elderly, and military service members. Meet the hackers and organized crime groups who want to steal your identity and money -- and learn how to protect your data and your life! Step by step, Weisman shows how to avoid risks, minimize risks you can't completely avoid, and immediately take the right steps if you're ever victimized. He objectively reviews new products and services that promise to fight identity theft, and previews emerging dangers, such as RFID credit cards. If you use a computer, the Internet, a smartphone, cell phone, tablet, or any other communications device, 50 Ways to Protect Your Identity in a Digital Age isn't just an indispensable wake-up call: it's the world's best resource for protecting yourself!
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9780133089073Publication Date: 2012
Child Identity Theft by
Child identity theft is the fastest growing type of identity theft, a crime that affects some 10 million people annually. Each year more than 500,000 children are affected by identity theft - half of them under age six. Countless other cases go unreported because the thief is a relative or parent of the victim. This devastating crime can wreak havoc on a child's future opportunities; it can be difficult to prove, and even harder to undo the damage that has been done. Child Identity Theft speaks to parents everywhere, the majority of whom have no idea that their children's identities have become such prime targets for thieves and criminals. Here, a veteran law enforcement professional and expert in child identity theft offers parents, educators, law enforcement officials, and others who care for or work with children an inside look at the ways in which children are vulnerable to identity thieves. Chappell presents the vital information in a question and answer format, offering not just information about how child identity theft happens, but also how to prevent it from happening, and what to do if it does. Among other things, Child Identity Theft explains: -how a loophole in the national credit reporting system allows criminals to target innocent children for their creditworthiness; -the variety of forms that child identity theft can take; -the hidden techniques that thieves use to gain children's identities and personal information; -which children are at a higher risk for identity theft; and -how an increasing number of child identity thefts are perpetrated by parents and relatives. This book reveals the reality of child identity theft and the steps we all should take to protect our children and ourselves. How many victimized children are out there out there waiting to be discovered? Has your child been victimized? One hopes not, but if so, this book will give you the tools to find out and get help.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9781442218628Publication Date: 2012
Identity Theft for Dummies by
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.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9780470565216Publication Date: 2010
Protecting Your Internet Identity by
Today people have an offline reputation and image, but are increasingly creating one or more online personas. Their online image is having an impact on them in many ways. Employers are hiring and firing based on people's online activities. Criminals are using online identities to abuse or steal from victims. Cyberbullies are taking advantage of those who reveal themselves as vulnerable on grieving or eating disorder sites. Schools are denying admission based on adolescent behaviors broadcast online in social networking sites or media sharing sites such as YouTube. Protecting Your Internet Identity: Are you Naked Online? helps readers understand the implications of their online personas, how they may be putting themselves at risk, and how to take charge of this important new aspect of their lives for career and personal success. Offering simple, specific steps readers can take to analyze their online image, determine who they want to be online, and turn their online reputation around, this book is the go-to source for protecting your online image and projecting the persona you want others to see. The authors offer key advice on: -Changing privacy settings -Purging unwanted personal content -Recognizing the risks and pitfalls of online identities -Utilizing social networking to your advantage -Protecting your kids online -Curbing unwanted "spying" on your searches and interests -Preventing identity theft and other online dangers -Redeeming your online image -Projecting a more professional image
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9781442212206Publication Date: 2012
Cyberphobia by
Cybercrime is increasingly in the news. Stories about weaknesses in cybersecurity like the "Heartbleed" leak, or malicious software on the cash registers at your local Target have become alarmingly common. Even more alarming is the sheer number of victims associated with these crimes--the identities and personal information of millions is stolen outright as criminals drain bank accounts and max out credit cards. The availability of stolen credit card information is now so common that it can be purchased on the black market for as little as four dollars with potentially thousands at stake for the victims. Possibly even more catastrophic are hackers at a national level that have begun stealing national security, or economic and trade secrets. The world economy and geopolitics hang in the balance. InCyberphobia, Edward Lucas unpacks this shadowy, but metastasizing problem confronting our security--both for individuals and nations. The uncomfortable truth is that we do not take cybersecurity seriously enough. Strong regulations on automotive safety or guidelines for the airline industry are commonplace, but when it comes to the internet, it might as well be the Wild West. Standards of securing our computers and other internet-connected technology are diverse, but just like the rules of the road meant to protect both individual drivers and everyone else driving alongside them, weak cybersecurity on the computers and internet systems near us put everyone at risk. Lucas sounds a compelling and necessary alarm on behalf of cybersecurity and prescribes immediate and bold solutions to this grave threat.
Call Number: 364.168 LUCISBN: 9781632862259Publication Date: 2015
Online Privacy and Hacking by
Gr 9 Up¿This series covers important and timely topics relating to online privacy concerns and provides information about how people can protect themselves from identity theft and scams (as well as other more general information, including some historical background about the Internet). There is lot of content here, with discussion about how online privacy issues pervade many aspects of our lives; an extensive index will assist with sifting through it all. An ¿Online Privacy Tips¿ feature at the end of each book is useful for condensing material. These titles are possibilities for older readers doing in-depth research on online privacy.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9781601527288Publication Date: 2014
Additional Books
50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit by
Everything You Need to Know About Identity Theft, Credit Cards, Credit Repair, and Credit Reports "The author substitutes straight talk for legal mumbo-jumbo in 50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit. Reading this book is like getting a black belt in consumer self-defense." –Jim Bohannon, host ofThe Jim Bohannon Show "Identity theft is among the fastest-growing problems facing Americans today. This book will help you learn all you need to know to protect your lives, money, and security. Consider it your first stop in your quest for knowledge and guidance to prevent ID theft." –Robert Powell, Editor of CBSMarketWatch "As one who has lived through some of the nightmare scenarios discussed by the author, I believe "Steve's Rules" (Chapter 14) need to be placed in a prominent place so you can see them any time you think you are safe. They may be the new practical commandments for financial survival." –Doug Stephan, host of theGood Daynationally syndicated radio show "Detecting and stopping identity thieves is imperative to protecting your finances and financial reputation. Steve Weisman shows you how to protect yourself and what steps to take if you are victimized. This is a must-read for anyone with a bank account and a credit card!" –Bonnie Bleidt, Boston Stock Exchange Reporter, CBS4 Boston, Host ofEarly Exchange, WBIX Don't be a victim! Save your identity, save your credit–and save a fortune! 10,000,000 Americans had their identities stolen last year–don't be the next! Discover easy steps you can take now to reduce your vulnerability. Recognize "phishing" and other identity scams–online and off. Learn what you must do immediately if you've been attacked. Defend yourself against credit rip-offs, and stop paying more than you have to! It's all here: simple rules, handy checklists, even easy-to-use form letters! © Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.
Call Number: 364.163 WEIISBN: 013146759XPublication Date: 2005
Overconnected by
In Overconnected, Bill Davidow explains how the almost miraculous success of the Internet in connecting the world through the Worldwide Web has also created a unique set of hazards, in effect overconnecting us, with the direst of consequences. The benefits of our recently arrived-at state of connectivity have been myriad from the ease with which it has been possible to buy a new house to the convenience of borrowing and investing money profitably. But the luxuries of the connected age have taken on a momentum all of their own. By counter-intuitively anatomizing how being overconnected tends to create systems of positive feedback that have largely negative consequences, Davidow explains everything from the recent Subprime mortgage crisis to the meltdown of Iceland, from the loss of people's privacy to the spectacular fall of the stock market. All because we were so miraculously wired together.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9781883285463Publication Date: 2011
Privacy in the Age of Big Data by
Digital data collection and surveillance gets more pervasive and invasive by the day; but the best ways to protect yourself and your data are all steps you can take yourself. The devices we use to get just-in-time coupons, directions when we re lost, and maintain connections with loved ones no matter how far away they are, also invade our privacy in ways we might not even be aware of. Our devices send and collect data about us whenever we use them, but that data is not safeguarded the way we assume it would be. Privacy is complex and personal. Many of us do not know the full extent to which data is collected, stored, aggregated, and used. As recent revelations indicate, we are subject to a level of data collection and surveillance never before imaginable. While some of these methods may, in fact, protect us and provide us with information and services we deem to be helpful and desired, others can turn out to be insidious and over-arching. Privacy in the Age of Big Data highlights the many positive outcomes of digital surveillance and data collection while also outlining those forms of data collection to which we may not consent, and of which we are likely unaware. Payton and Claypoole skillfully introduce readers to the many ways we are watched, and how to adjust our behaviors and activities to recapture our privacy. The authors suggest the tools, behavior changes, and political actions we can take to regain data and identity security. Anyone who uses digital devices will want to read this book for its clear and no-nonsense approach to the world of big data and what it means for all of us."
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9781442242579Publication Date: 2015
Swiped by
Identity fraud happens to everyone. So what do you do when it's your turn? Increasingly, identity theft is a fact of life. We might once have hoped to protect ourselves from hackers with airtight passwords and aggressive spam filters, and those are good ideas as far as they go. But with the breaches of huge organizations like Target, AshleyMadison.com, JPMorgan Chase, Sony, Anthem, and even the US Office of Personnel Management, more than a billion personal records have already been stolen, and chances are good that you're already in harm's way. This doesn't mean there's no hope. Your identity may get stolen, but it doesn't have to be a life-changing event. Adam Levin, a longtime consumer advocate and identity fraud expert, provides a method to help you keep hackers, phishers, and spammers from becoming your problem. Levin has seen every scam under the sun: fake companies selling "credit card insurance"; criminal, medical, and child identity theft; emails that promise untold riches for some personal information; catphishers, tax fraud, fake debt collectors who threaten you with legal action to confirm your account numbers; and much more. As Levin shows, these folks get a lot less scary if you see them coming. With a clearheaded, practical approach,Swiped is your guide to surviving the identity theft epidemic. Even if you've already become a victim, this strategic book will help you protect yourself, your identity, and your sanity.
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9781610395878Publication Date: 2015
Stealing Your Life by
The charismatic forger immortalized in the film Catch Me If You Can exposes the astonishing tactics of today’s identity theft criminals and offers powerful strategies to thwart them based on his second career as an acclaimed fraud-fighting consultant. Consider these sobering facts: *Six out of ten American companies and government agencies have already been hacked. *An estimated 80 percent of birth certificate requests are fulfilled through the mail for people using only a name and a return address. So I could take your name and use my address, and get your birth certificate. From there I’m off to the races. *Americans write 39 billion checks a year, and half of these folks never reconcile their bank statements. *A Social Security number costs $49 on the black market. A driver’s license goes for $90. A birth certificate will set you back $79. When Frank Abagnale trains law enforcement officers around the country about identity theft, he asks officers for their names and addresses and nothing more. In a matter of hours he can obtain everything he would need to steal their lives: Social Security numbers, dates of birth, current salaries, checking account numbers, the names of everyone in their families, and more. This illustrates how easy it is for anyone from anywhere in the world to assume our identities and in a matter of hours devastate our lives in ways that can take years to recover from. Considering that a fresh victim is hit every four seconds, Stealing Your Life is the reference everyone needs by an unsurpassed authority on the latest identity theft schemes. Abagnale offers dozens of concrete steps to transform anyone from an easy mark into a hard case that criminals are likely to bypass: • Don’t allow your kids to use the computer on which you do online banking and store financial records (children are apt to download games and attachments that host damaging viruses or attract spyware). • Beware of offers that appeal to greed or fear in exchange for personal data. • Monitor your credit report regularly and know if anyone’s been “knocking on your door.” • Read privacy statements carefully and choose to opt out of sharing information whenever possible. Brimming with anecdotes of creative criminality that are as entertaining as they are enlightening, Stealing Your Life is the practical way to shield yourself from one of today’s most nefarious and common crimes.
Call Number: 362.88 ABAISBN: 9780767925860Publication Date: 2007
Identity Theft Alert by
Protect yourself from identity theft! Nearly 17 million Americans were victimized by identity theft in 2012 alone: for 13 straight years, it has been America's #1 consumer crime. No one is immune: children, the elderly and even the dead have been victimized. Identity theft can be high-tech, low-tech, or even no tech, via "dumpster diving." You're vulnerable, and you need to act. Fortunately, you can take practical steps to safeguard your identity right now. In Identity Theft Alert , award-winning author and attorney Steve Weisman shows you exactly what to do, and how to do it. Equally important, he also tells you what to stop doing: the common, inadvertent behaviors that could be setting you up as a victim. Weisman starts with a clear-eyed assessment of the problem, helping you understand just how much risk you face. Next, he helps you understand, anticipate, and prevent all these frightening forms of identity theft: Identity theft via Facebook and other social media Identity theft via your iPhone or Android smartphone Theft of your credit or debit cards, and other access to your finances Crime sprees performed in your name Medical identity theft that could lead to you getting the wrong treatment - and could even kill you The fast-growing scourge of income tax identity theft, including stolen refunds Don't be the next victim: read this book, follow its step-by-step advice, and protect yourself!
Call Number: RCLSISBN: 9780133902525Publication Date: 2014
Websites
- FTC Identity Theft Guide Step-by-step instructions from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on recovering from identity theft.
- Identity Theft Resource Center This nonprofit organization supports victims of identity theft to resolve cases and raise awareness about identity theft.
- Privacy Choices for Your Personal Finance Information From the Federal Trade Commission, options for keeping personal finance information private and safe.
- Warning Signs of Identity Theft A resource from the Federal Trade Commission that discusses warning signs for potential identity theft.
- Identity Theft Recovery Steps to recovering from identity theft prepared by the Federal Trade Commission.
- Identity Theft Resources An annotated list of identity theft resources for consumers compiled by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).
- Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft Taxpayer options when identity theft affects a tax return.
- OnGuard Online -- FTC Tips to help you stay safe and secure online.
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National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center NCCIC is the Nation’s flagship cyber defense, incident response, and operational integration center. Our mission is to reduce the Nation’s risk of systemic cybersecurity and communications challenges.
Sources
American Library Association. Financial Literacy in Public Libraries: A Guide for Building Collections.
My thanks go to ALA for inventing this wheel for me.
Thrall Library's Links for Investors.
CFPB's list of financial educational resources
