Ethan Pope - Identity Theft: Protecting Yourself From an Unprotected World

I DENTITY T HEFT

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM
AN UNPROTECTED WORLD

ETHAN POPE

M OODY P UBLISHERS
CHICAGO

2006 by
E THAN P OPE

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification mark C ERTIFIED F INANCIAL L ANNER TM , which it awards to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Boards initial and ongoing certification requirements.

This book is not intended to give SPECIFIC legal, tax, or investment counsel. Its purpose is to give general insights in the area of personal money management and identity theft prevention. Neither the author nor the publisher can take responsibility for the readers decisions based on the information provided in this book. Due to changing technology and laws, it is recommended that you seek professional counsel for your individual circumstances.

Cover Design: DesignWorks Group Inc.
Cover Image: Tim Green
Editor: Jim Vincent

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pope, Ethan.

Identity theft : protecting yourself from an unprotected world / Ethan Pope.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8024-0974-4
1. Identity theftUnited States. 2. Identity theftUnited StatesPrevention. I. Title.

HV6679.P67 2006
362.88dc22

2006006117

We hope you enjoy this book from Moody Publishers. Our goal is to provide high-quality, thought-provoking books and products that connect truth to your real needs and challenges. For more information on other books and products written and produced from a biblical perspective, go to www.moodypublishers.com or write to:

Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60610

ISBN: 0-8024-0974-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8024-0974-4

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

Printed in the United States of America

It is a federal crime when someone:

knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of Federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable State or local law.

The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (1998) 18 U.S.C. 1028(a)(7)

QUICK FACTS

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America and the top reported fraud of 2005.

80%: Americans who are concerned about identity theft.

10 million: Estimated number of Americans affected by ID thefts each year.

$50 billion: Dollars that FTC estimates are lost annually as a result of identity theft.

50 million: People at risk due to data being lost or stolen or misplaced by corporations.

175 hours and $800: The time and cost, on average, for each victim of ID theft to clear his or her name.

Sources: Federal Trade CommissionIdentity Theft Survey Report; USA Today,www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2005-03-02-datathieves-usat_x.htm; Money magazine, August 2005, 27; Identity Theft Survival Guide, CNNMoney, www.money.cnn.com/2002/04/03/pf/q_identity/index.htm.