Swiped

February 8, 2016
In this alarming book, Levin, a consumer advocate and founder of the consulting agency Identity Theft 911, warns about the prominent dangers of identity fraud in the increasingly digital world. Levin details the numerous ways in which individuals can "get got," citing several real-world examples, such as the ramifications of a seemingly harmless photo of a Target employee that went viral after a customer tweeted it. He explains how information is ripe for the swiping by criminals who make stealing identities their full-time job. Levin's proactive and (mostly) practical approach to combating what he considers the inevitable includes the "Three Ms": minimize your exposure, monitor your accounts, and manage the damage. He breaks down common types of identity theft sourcesâcredit card scams, data breaches, social media posts, healthcare fraud, and even so-called "smart TVs"âand concludes that "when it comes to the security of our data, we are all in the same state of emergency." Appendices make up nearly one-fourth of the book with true stories of fraud and a glossary of scams. If Levin's objective was to convince readers they will become victims of identity theft, mission accomplished. This isn't as much a solution-based handbook as it is a primer on the potential dangers and what's at stake.

September 15, 2015
Useful advice on protecting your identity. As a consumer advocate with more than three decades of experience, Levin has the perfect background to discuss the threats associated with identity theft. In his first book, he provides readers with a realistic overview of the many ways one's identity can be snatched or stolen via the Internet, and he provides detailed information on how to counteract these kinds of attacks. "You're going to get got," writes the author, so it's best to assume the worst and learn how to protect personal information. This includes social security numbers, phone numbers, email and physical addresses, credit reports, medical records, and other data that social media and other websites, as well as banks, stores, doctors' offices, and others, collect that create a well-rounded picture of who you are. Creative and determined hackers can piece together snippets of information from a variety of sources to re-create your profile and use it to undermine your credit score or learn when and where you're on vacation, which leaves your house vulnerable to theft. Levin is thorough in his descriptions of possible hacks, and he offers easy-to-follow procedures that will help deter these attackers. A long list of fraud stories drives home how devastating identity theft can be to a living person (or for the family of the deceased), and a comprehensive glossary of scams is a real eye-opener. Levin doesn't hype up the threats and doesn't gloss over the real dangers; he's genuinely concerned about the increasing risks of identity theft and wants to make sure people know how to protect themselves. If large stores like Target or online sites like TurboTax are vulnerable, then the average person is definitely in the cross hairs. Fortunately, Levin has provided some excellent lines of defense. Rock-solid evidence on the rise of identity theft and the multiple steps one can take to counteract an attack.

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