Wilson - Cover Your Tracks Without Changing Your Identity

Other books by B. Wilson:
Backyard Catapults: How to Build Your Own
How to Get Rich as a Televangelist or Faith Healer
Under the Table and Into Your Pocket: The How and Why of The Underground Economy

Cover Your Tracks without Changing Your Identity:
How to Disappear Until You WANT to Be Found
by B. Wilson

Copyright 2003 by B. Wilson

ISBN 13: 978-1-58160-929-5
ePub ISBN: 9781610046534
PRC ISBN: 9781610043298
Printed in the United States of America

Published by Paladin Press, a division of
Paladin Enterprises, Inc.,
Gunbarrel Tech Center
7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, Colorado 80301 USA
+1.303.443.7250

Direct inquiries and/or orders to the above address.

PALADIN, PALADIN PRESS, and the horse head design
are trademarks belonging to Paladin Enterprises and
registered in United States Patent and Trademark Office.

All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, no
portion of this book may be reproduced in any form
without the express written permission of the publisher.

Neither the author nor the publisher assumes
any responsibility for the use or misuse of
information contained in this book.

Visit our Web site at www.paladin-press.com

The human condition being what it is, dreaming of a better life is a pastime most of us indulge in at least occasionally. One of the most common fantasies is that of disappearing completely and leaving undesirable circumstances behind. Many who dream of this have severe financial or personal problems that have made their present lives intolerable. Numerous books have been written over the past 30 years showing these readers how they can shed their old identities and start over. These works have helped thousands to escape unpleasant and often dangerous situations and literally make a fresh start.

As valuable as these books are, however, they have one common limitation. They assume that the reader wants to make a total and permanent change, and the instructions they offer are given with that assumption in mind. For many, however, this is simply not the case. They want or need to get away but do not wish to permanently sever ties to their old life. What they need is a way to escape for a few weeks or months, perhaps up to a year; get some breathing room from their problems; and then decide what their next step will be. The usual change your identity books are not suitable for them. It is for these people that this book was written.

I have been in such a situation myself. The year 2001 was traumatic for me personally, and I realized one day that I had to get away for a while. I also knew that people like creditors and maniacal former significant others, as well as well-meaning but nosy friends, would want to keep tabs on me. This was unacceptable. So I developed a plan for disappearing one day and leaving no tracks that one could follow to find me.

I also knew, however, that I did not want to stay away forever. I could not stay goodbye to Dixie permanently, being a native of the South and a lover of the region. Nor did I wish to sever all contact with family and friends. I was not wanted by the law or the Mob. What I needed was a light identity change, one that would safely shield me from snoops for several months while I cleared my head and figured out my next move.

I was able to accomplish this with complete success. I found a sanctuary where I could stay long-term and be treated well. I made a plan, saved my money, and reduced my possessions to a minimal level. Then one day I quite literally just took off, driving to another region of the country where friends awaited to offer me shelter, aid, and assistance. I established red herrings and false clues to mislead others as to my whereabouts. While in the new area, I established employment and a savings account without changing my Social Security number. I kept a fairly low profile but was by no means a hermit. I traveled widely across the state I lived in, enjoying its sites and attractions openly. As I suspected, there were those who tried to find me, but they were unsuc cessful. When my self-imposed sabbatical was nearing an end, I sat down to write this book as I prepared to return to the South and pick my life back up.

Now you can learn how I covered my tracks without changing my identity. This book is based upon my own experiences, as well as research and discussion with others who have gotten away for a while and were not found. If you believe that you could do with a little time out, then read on and learn how you too can take a vacation from your regular life for a while.

What is going on in your life right now? Have things taken a downward turn for you? Are your finances in a mess? Are you in a relationship, or even a marriage, that is in bad shape? Do you hate your job? Feeling mean, nasty, and tired? Well, dont go postal, dont get intoxicated, and dont send your money to a television evangelist.

Get out.

Rarely in difficult circumstances does one have the presence of mind to calmly and rationally evaluate the situation and decide on a course of action. Emotional stress; pressure from associates, family, and friends; and false feelings of guilt or misplaced loyalty can all hinder clear thinking. The best thing to do is get away, even if it is just for a day or two, and let yourself calm down. Put some distance between you and your problems, and very often solutions will come to you that you never would have thought of otherwise.

Getting away almost always helps, but the critical question is, For how long? For what amount of time should you stay away before returning to tackle your situation? For that matter, should you return? Tenacity is not always a virtue.

In some cases, such as where you are in extreme danger from a murderous and relentless foe, a permanent escape may be best. This will require a heavy-duty new identity, with all ties to your past life erased. In many other cases, though, leaving permanently may do more harm than good. Factors to be considered include your reasons for leaving, probability or desirability of being able to return to your old life, ability to cope with living a new life, and the diligence and resources of your potential pursuers.

Lets look at some hypothetical scenarios and see if we can figure out the best thing to do in each one.

UNLUCKY IN LOVE LARRY

Larry Jones is a married man, 32 years old, with a decent job that he tolerates but doesnt really like. His health is good, his credit fair, and he has no kids. He is a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen with a modest home he owns and a few thousand dollars in the bank. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He has always dreamed of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, which begins in the northern part of the state. But he could never get the time off for the five to six months the adventure would require.

Larrys biggest source of both joy and sorrow is his wife Darlene. A moody, demanding woman, she frequently torments him with verbal abuse and nagging. When she is nice she makes him quite happy, but her niceness usually depends on her having her own way. When Larry does not give her what she wants she becomes angry and contrary, either berating him or trying to make him feel guilty. Larry loves Darlene but is afraid to think of spending the rest of his life with her.