Identity Theft
Introduction and Background
During and immediately following a disaster most people are in situations involving intense emotional feelings of grief, anger and even despair. Unfortunately, at this time victims of a disaster are also more vulnerable to unscrupulous predators who will steal a person’s identity for criminal intent. Protecting Your Identity During a Disaster is a guide that provides some basic information on how to reduce the potential for identity theft during and after a disaster. This guide is divided into five sections which address all aspects of identity theft prevention from preparedness to actions to take during and immediately following a disaster. There is also a section on what to do if you are the victim of identity theft. The last section lists other resources that address identity theft prevention.
About the Authors
Michael J. Santarcangelo, II, CISSP is an expert on cyber-security and the founder of The Michaelangelo Group (http://www.michaelangelogroup.com ) which is a security-focused services and educational firm. Mr. Santarcangelo is a graduate of Cornell University's College of Human Ecology with a degree in policy analysis.
John Sileo, a victim of identity theft in 2003, was held legally and financially responsible for the crimes committed using his identity. After two years and thousands of dollars he was able clear his name. His book, Stolen Lives: Identity Theft Prevention Made Simple is based on the methods of survival the he developed during this experience. Mr. Sileo is a graduate of Harvard University and served as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to New Zealand.
Additional Resources
Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/
Basic theft recovery: http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft
Think Like a Spy: http://www.thinklikeaspy.com
The Bald Security Expert: http://www.baldsecurityexpert.com