BKIDTHMA.RVW   20120831

"Identity Theft Manual: Practical Tips, Legal Hints, and Other Secrets
Revealed", Jack Nuern, 2012
%A   Jack Nuern http://www.idtheftadvocates.com
%C   4901 W. 136 St., Leawood, KS, USA   66224
%D   2012
%G   ASIN: B0088IG92E
%I   Roadmap Productions
%O   fax 866-594-2771
%O  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0088IG92E/robsladesinterne
  http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0088IG92E/robsladesinte-21
%O   http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0088IG92E/robsladesin03-20
%O   Audience n- Tech 1 Writing 1 (see revfaq.htm for explanation)
%P   128 p.
%T   "Identity Theft Manual: Practical Tips, Legal Hints, and Other
       Secrets Revealed"

Despite the implications of the title, this is not a primer for
performing identity theft, but a guide to preventing and recovering
from it.  The information, unfortunately, is fairly pedestrian, and
most of it could be obtained from any magazine article on the topic.

Chapter one is a (very) basic introduction to identity theft, with a
rather odd emphasis on the use of medical information.  Methods of
identity theft are described in chapter two.  Unfortunately, this is
where the book starts to show signs of serious disorganization, and
some of the material is more sensational than helpful.  Chapter three
lists some steps you can take to try and prevent identity theft.  The
suggestions are the usual standards of not giving out any information
to anyone, and the book tacitly admits that protection is not assured.

Chapter four gets to the real intent of the work: actions to take when
your identity has been stolen and misused.  There is a great deal of
useful content at this point, limited by two factors.  One is that
everything discussed is limited to institutions in the United States. 
The other is that there is almost no discussion of what the entities
mentioned can do for you, and what they can't, or won't.

As one could expect from a book written by a law firm, chapter five
addresses the liability that the victim of identity theft faces.  The
answer, unsurprisingly, is "it depends," backed up with a few stories. 
(Pardon me: "case studies.")

There are some appendices (called, predictably, "Exhibits").  Again,
most of these will only be of use to those in the United States, and
some, sections of related laws, will be of very little use to most. 
There is a victim complaint and affidavit form which would probably be
very helpful to most identity theft victims, reminding them of
information to be collected and presented to firms and authorities.

The book is not particularly well written, and could certainly use
some better structure and organization.  However, within its limits,
it can be of use to those who are in the situation, and who frequently
have nowhere to turn.  As the book notes, authorities are often
unhelpful and take limited interest in identity theft cases.  And, as
the book also (frequently) notes, the book is cheaper than hiring a
law firm.

copyright, Robert M. Slade   2012     BKIDTHMA.RVW   20120831