50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit

November 15, 2004
This book takes a comprehensive look at the phenomenon of identity theft, explaining what it is, how it happens, how to protect yourself from it, and what to do if it does happen to you. Using real-life examples to illustrate common identity theft scams, attorney Weisman reviews the steps consumers can take to protect themselves and emphasizes the informed and cautious use of credit cards, ATM cards, mailboxes, online purchasing, and online bill payment systems. He also reviews the role of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in protecting consumer privacy and discusses technological developments like voice recognition software, retinal scans, and fingerprinting systems now being used to fight identity scams. Forms, letters, and checklists are included to help victims report credit or identity fraud to the appropriate authorities. Amanda Welsh's recent Identity Theft Protection Guide is similar in scope but includes a self-test so that readers can determine whether they are vulnerable Full of good information presented in usable form, Weisman's book is recommended for public libraries.-Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach LLP, Rochester, NY

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.