Product Description

From cyberspace to crawl spaces, new innovations in information gathering have left the private life of the average person open to scrutiny, and worse, exploitation. In this thoroughly revised update of his immensely popular guide How to Be Invisible, J.J. Luna shows you how to protect yourself from these information predators by securing your vehicle and real estate ownership, your bank accounts, your business dealings, your computer files, your home address, and more.

J.J. Luna, a highly trained and experienced security consultant, shows you how to achieve the privacy you crave and deserve, whether you just want to shield yourself from casual scrutiny or take your life savings with you and disappearing without a trace. Whatever your needs, Luna reveals the shocking secrets that private detectives and other seekers of personal information use to uncover information and then shows how to make a serious commitment to safeguarding yourself.

There is a prevailing sense in our society that true privacy is a thing of the past. Filled with vivid real life stories drawn from the headlines and from Luna's own consulting experience, How to Be Invisible, Revised Edition is a critical antidote to the privacy concerns that continue only to grow in magnitude as new and more efficient ways of undermining our personal security are made available. Privacy is a commonly-lamented casualty of the Information Age and of the world's changing climate-but that doesn't mean you have to stand for it.

Customer Reviews:

• HOW TO BE INVISIBLE IS RITE ADVICE 2 AVOID GETTING SUED
  THE BOOK PROVIDES GREAT ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO DO YOUR BEST AT BEING INVISIBLE FROM PREDATORS WHO ARE AFTER YOUR CAR, AND YOUR FINANCES, AND TO HIDE FROM LUNATIC STALKERS. THIS IS VALUABLE INFO. FOR MEN, HIGH SCHOOL TEENS AND WOMEN. JJ LUNAS BOOK IS A TOTAL MUST. WE CAN'T HIDE FROM BIG BROTHER IN THE END, BUT WE CAN TRY TO HIDE FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE VENDETTAS AGAINST US[E.G., SUCH AS AN ENVIOUS NEIGHBOR, A BITTER CO-WORKER, OR A MEAN BOYFRIEND, GIRLFRIEND].
  
  *ONE TIP I WILL SHARE WITH YOU IS ON SHOPPING CARTS.
  IF YOU SEE AN ABUNDANCE OF THEM NEXT TO YOU PLEASE PUT THEM BACK IN THEIR PLACE(IN THERE CONTAINMENT AREA) BECAUSE THE AUTHOR (JJ LUNA) TALKED ABOUT A MAN BEING BLAMED BY THIS COUPLE(AT THE SUPERMARKET) FOR THEIR VEHICLE BEING DAMAGED BY HIM(IT WAS NOT TRUE). HE DID NOT DO ANYTHING BUT THE WIND DIRECTED THE SHOPPING CART (WHICH ANOTHER PERSON LEFT THERE) TO THEIR EXPENSIVE VEHICLE AND THEY BLAMED HIM FOR THE INCIDENT. WHAT IS THE POINT TO THIS? TROUBLE LEADS TO COURT APPEARANCES AND THE SYSTEM WILL BE MORE AWARE OF YOU AND WHERE YOU LIVE, ETC.
  
  THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED. WE CAN'T ESCAPE BIG BROTHER IN THE END(THE TECH IS SIMPLY TO POWERFUL) BUT MOST OF THE METHODS IN HERE CAN GIVE YOU (SOME) INVISIBILITY LIKE A U-2 SPY PLANE.
  
  ANOTHER TIP: IF YOU WANT TO BE INVISIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING BOOK REVIEWS ON AMAZON.COM JUST USE THE KIDS REVIEW OPTION WHEN COMMENTING ON THIS BOOK BY JJ LUNA. NO ONE AT AMAZON.COM WILL KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
  
  YOU CAN BE A NICE CARING PERSON BUT STILL BEING ANONYMOUS IS THE WAY TO GO FROM THE WEIRDOS WHO ROAM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOUR SHOPPING MALLS, YOUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, ETC.
  I GIVE THIS BOOK FIVE STARS..........TOTALLY RECOMMENDED. ...more info
• How to be Invisible
  I really enjoyed this book. It started me to thinking. Without sounding like the paranoid fringe, I have felt "Big Brother" creeping into our lives more and more each year. It's all done of course in the name of security. New laws keep intruding more and more into our personal lives until (if it's not stopped) we'll just become another police state. It looks from this law-abiding citizen more like there is no end to control and invasion of privacy. If all those in power were honest and altruistic perhaps it wouldn't seem so bad. But you and I know this is not the case. It's all about power and power over me is one thing I wish to limit as much as possible. We all need to learn to hide in plain sight. Let's just say I was impressed enough to buy his other book "work from home at any age".
  
  Fred H...more info
• The Best
  Having read both of Mr.Luna's books on privacy,as well as many if not all of the other books published on the subject,and having placed many of his suggestions into practice, I still contend that his book is the best by far.
  
  His suggestions are not only practical but legal as well.
  Ideas present by other writers are not only questionable,but at the very least paint a bright red target on your back.
  
  The fact that Mr. Luna keeps up on the ever changing world,and is up to date on what will and what won't work,and is willing to share this information long after the price of the book has faded
  proves that this is the book to have if you are serious about your privacy.Thank you Mr Luna...more info
• Excellent reading for all ages - must know info on privacy
  If you are old enough to drive (or much older), you need to read this book.
  
  The author does an excellent job of informing the reader how to maintain privacy and protect oneself under a variety of circumstances. He also understands that not everyone can or wants to achieve the ultimate level that he has - take it as far as you like and are comfortable with.
  
  Other reviewers giving a negative impression of this book don't appear to have read (or understood) the entire book. Many of their comments are simply incorrect. Some of this is tough to do and not for everyone and the author makes that perfectly clear.
  
  The book is well worth the money and the ONLY book I have found that is supported by the author DAILY with a FREE website.
  
  Thank you Mr. Luna!...more info
• unrealistic
  Don't waste your money on this book because its mostly useless. If you want it then get it used. The author wants gullible readers to jump through hoops in the name of privacy. There's a fine line between privacy and paranoia. And he just seems to want to scare you.
  
  Let me start by saying that yes we're all part of "the system" but you can still manage to have your privacy. The government is made up of people, its not like they're some god up in the sky. And they make a lot of mistakes and mostly go after people who want the attention and make a lot of noise about it too.
  
  Like people who hold protests and give the government headaches, these are the people that the government most likely will deal with.
  
  I've learned the #1 rule of privacy is don't tell anyone anything that you don't want them to know. Even if they're family, best friends, the gf or bf of the moment, etc.
  
  Even if they are trustworthy, sometimes by accident they might make things to others known that you would rather they keep private, like when they go out to a bar with other friends on a Saturday night and might let some things slip. No one is entitled to know your whole history if you don't want them to. An individual is allowed to their own privacy. Some things in life are just for you.
  
  It also helps if you don't sign up for everything that people want you to sign up for. Like credit card offers, magazine/newspaper subscriptions, bookstore memberships, blockbuster memberships, grocery store memberships, if you move then don't register to vote, etc. It helps if you minimize your involvement in the system.
  
  Starting over doesn't have to be some "fantasy" that you read about in a book. You can even legally change your name in court if you want to. Move to a new city in your state that's very far away from your old life, or move out of state and have a clean start.
  
  I believe that our lives belong to us and if we can't live them as we wish to live them then what's the point, after all we only live once. But I really think that the best way to keep your privacy is to keep things to yourself, and minimize your involvement in the system.
  
  I'm not saying you have to be a hermit, I'm a very social person but there are things that I do keep to myself.
  ...more info
• Practical and Interesting
  I found this book informative and very interesting. The suggestions were practical and made sense. I don't feel I need to go to the highest level of security outlined in this book but I've decided to implement many of Luna's suggestions to increase my personal security.
  
  I always thought I was fairly careful with my information and with my online activities but reading this book was a real eye opener. I work for a large internet-based company that has customers all over the US and many of the calls I receive everyday are from people whose credit card numbers have been hijacked to pay for email addresses that are being used for phishing schemes. I also have spoken to many people who have been victims of identity theft or of online stalkers. It's bad and getting worse.
  
  I don't want to be easy prey for the stalkers, thieves, and con artists. This has already hit close to home for me and my family. My son had to live in another town with some relatives for a few months because of threats from a gang. My daughters' friend was victimized by a girl who gained access to her personal information and used it against her out of spite. I know two people personally who have been stalked and one who had to hide from a vindictive ex. Another friend's child got involved in the drug trade and the family was being threatened. The book does a good job of making you aware of risks to personal security without making you paranoid and if you ever have to really disappear it does a good job of letting you know how to do it legally.
  
  Thanks, JJ Luna, for writing an excellent book.
  ...more info
• A Must Read Book On Privacy
  I have read both editions of Mr. Luna's books on privacy and give them a thumbs up rating. He explains the dangers of being "careless" with ones personal information and gives step by step instructions on how to regain your privacy and protect yourself, be it from identity theft, stalkers, lawsuits, or a whatever other dangers there are from being easily known (or tracked down). I only wish I would have had this information as a teenager so I could have started my personal privacy journey more easily. A must read for anyone wanting to strengthen their personal privacy. I look forward to his upcoming book. A+++++++...more info
• Outdated. Some examples are not practical
  Somewhat outdated.
  Some of the information is not too practical such as how to get a mailbox (with examples given by people who have rented broom closets in an office building, putting a mailbox on a land that is unclaimed....) Other info that is not practical is bringing a lwayer with you when going to rent space or a doctor etc. What if the person who wants to rent the space is a person with an esteemed profession? That really makes no sense to me. Maybe I've read between the lines. You can have anyone pose as anything. That does not make it easier to rent by dragging in others with you. It just seems somewhat more suspicious if you ask me.
  Also, I do not see many options in not providing a SS# for a job background search or job related purposes. Perhaps this books is intended for the rich and famous because any person that has to work has to provide such information more so now in 2006 and no working person unles Rich will be able to pay "CASH" for 6 months or more of rent and/ or purchase of property or cars.
  I wish I got more out of the book since it was pricey. ...more info
• Important resource for women
  I read this book four times in the space of a week. This is the first book of its kind I've ever read and it answered questions I've had for many years.
  
  Other reviwers haven't emphasized enough how much work Luna has done with women and how many of his tips are tailor-made for women troubled with stalkers. This is a common occurance for women and one that often turns dangerous. His advice is clear and usually easy to implement, making it a godsend for women who want protection without resorting to dogs, other men or weapons.
  
  I plan on giving copies of this book to everyone I know and recommending it online in other discussion forums I belong to. This book is my personal "Book of the Year". Reading it the first time was like opening a whole new room flooded with light, as opposed to fumbling down a dark hallway. Yes, I've had some privacy issues and found this book to be just what I was asking for.
  
  He updates his website almost daily, which is excellent. I only wish he would add a private discussion board to it, but that might make the site too bulky.
  
  I would give this book 10 stars if I could. It is as useful as the clothing you wear every day. A #1 resource....more info
• Essential privacy advice for the average person
  I will never forget the blunt statement made by John Voight's character in the 1999 movie "Enemy of the State" when he said: "There is no privacy anymore. The only secrets someone can keep is in their head.".
  
  This book proves that statement wrong. With governments and corporations having almost unlimited ability to monitor and track people, J.J. Luna outlines legal, inexpensive and simple methods for anyone to be able to make themselves virtually 'invisible' to the various entities that data mine people's personal information.
  
  Everything from changing your identity to keeping your assets safe from scrutiny to taking back control of your personal information is all outlined in this book. Luna not only points out how to reassert your privacy but also goes into why as well.
  
  Your personal information is your property and you have an absolute right to take measures to ensure that you are not scrutinized by anyone. Especially with the ease of someone having their identity stolen now-a-days.
  
  I recommend that you read the books "No Place to Hide" and "Spychips" too if you want more information on the surveillance net being used to monitor, track and profile you in the post-9/11 world. "How to the Invisible" itself is not complete and, in addition to owning it, I also recommend following up at Luna's website for updates on the things he writes about in his book as well as other tips from readers that you can use to protect your privacy.
  
  This book is a sound treatsie on how anyone can legally live hidden, happy and free....more info
• Solid advice from a true believer
  I carefully read the first edition of the book approximately 7 years ago. Though I didn't perceive at the time that I had a need for "invisibility", I adopted several of the recommendations in the book simply because they made me feel more comfortable. I was subsequently harrassed by a disgruntled former employee. At least one overt act of his was thwarted by my privacy measures. How many others, I'll never know. Every bit of energy and money I'd invested in my privacy was paid back and then some.
  
  I subsequently had occasional correspondence with the author, sharing some of my anecdotes and specialized knowledge. I found him to be straightforward, engaging, and rather likeable. Two items in the Revised Edition were contributed by me.
  
  I no longer live an "invisible lifestyle", but can attest from experience that the recommendations can be quite effective if consistently implemented. It's not always convenient, and can cost more. But the greater sense of comfort pays off immediately, and if it frustrates even one would-be tormentor...
  
  I recommend this book as the best one on the subject....more info
• Better Titled "An introduction and story book on how to Invisible."
  This book is an Introduction or Beginner's Guide to Privacy Protection. There was NOTHING New within the wasted pages of this book, all the information found in this volume can easily be had by simple research on the web, the only thing you will find in this book that you won't on the web is the author's boring and useless stories. When I saw it was published by St.Martin's Press, I had my reservations on it content, as large or main stream publishing house's won't publish a book worth reading that does'nt fit within the parameter's of social conformity, and if they do (such as this book) it's only going to be filled with midless dribble and nothing of substance. So why did i buy it, well there were so many positive review's I thought I has missed a hidden gem, unfortunately all these positive reviews MUST come from those new to the privacy game.
  ...more info
• Thoughful and Useful
  I am a Security Consultant and a licensed Private Detective. "How To Be Invisible" is a thoughtful look at our post 9/11 world by a privacy conscious law abiding citizen.
  
  Contrary to other reviewers I did not read any unreasonable examples used by the author to instill fear in the reader to make his point, or what could be called scare mongering. He uses historical experiences of real life people - straight out of newspapers from around the country and the world - that could have benefited from the advice he gives.
  
  Some reviewers have questioned the cost or usefulness of the New Mexico LLC's, the ghost addresses, or the use of a nominee for several purposes. They haven't read the book carefully or they have not seen his website. The services offered at www.jjluna.com are reasonable. To anyone reading this, I say - Good security is ALWAYS expensive and ALWAYS inconvenient. If you cut corners you will be exposed to a threat you chose to allow into your life.
  
  This is not a book for people on the run from the law. He give examples of how criminals are stupid, get lazy, and eventually get caught, not how to hide from the Feds. Period.
  
  For people with the intestinal fortitude to take the steps outlined here, and not cower under the glare of a bureaucrat, mail clerk or cashier, J.J. Luna's book will give you piece of mind in a hectic illogical world.
  
  My fellow investigators locate people and their assets daily. Their clients don't legally HAVE to have a good reason for making requests. Some PI's ARE as bent as the examples in Luna's book, and will take any case where the cash is evident.
  
  I agree with what other reviewers have said, you buy insurance for the day unforeseen problems occur. Think of the advice found in "How To Be Invisible" as insurance for life....more info
• Not Worth The Time
  This book was very disappointing. Don't waste your time. Instead of providing and concrete resources, the main advice is to fudge your SSN or have someone receive your mail. Skip this tome....more info
• Excellent book on Privacy Techniques!
  This is an excellent book on privacy techniques. What I like about it is that JJ Luna discusses various levels of privacy, and I have found that the more privacy you want, the more time/effort you will have to go through to maintain it. He talks about how to go about receiving your mail, where to choose to live, how use the phone, how to pay people, and how to title assets more privately. I like this book because JJ Luna does not try to force a one size fits all agenda upon people, but lets the reader decide on what level of privacy is right for them. There are varying levels of privacy which can be obtained for each one, depending on your circumstances (e.g. family, job, etc). Of course, the more privacy you want, the more you will have to sacrifice, but most of these techniques are simple and won't take too much extra time out of your week.
  
  Another thing this book goes into is how to work in a more private fashion. There are varying degrees to this as well and to obtain the highest levels of privacy, JJ Luna ultimately suggests to become self-employed. He touches on some points on that as well, but if you want more on that, then also be sure to check out his other book called Work From Home At Any Age (ISBN 0976387239), which I also highly recommend....more info
• Unique book, nothing else like it
  A previous reviewer wrote that Luna's book has "Some good information, but a lot is wayyy out there." Since I have both his original book as well as the revised version and have studied them both, I think what is "wayyy out there" is the reviewer's ability to understand what she reads.
  
  For example, she writes, "If you want to `fly under the radar' then you can't call the police if you're in danger." No such recommendation is in the book.
  
  Again: "Luna even suggests giving your SSN to get a passport ..." Correct, but then she adds, "so there again you can be tracked. Maybe not by the every day Joe, but certainly by anyone that wants to pay a few bucks to have you found."
  
  Wow, imagine that. Pay someone a "few bucks" and they will not only extract your SSN from the U.S. government's passport file, but "have you found." American passports do not include any address whatsoever.
  
  She goes on the say that Luna "says NOT to carry your SS card with you, or even your Medicare card, since it has your SSN on it - but then you're doing the same thing if you carry your passport." American passports do not include the holder's Social Security number.
  
  The list goes on and on, but enough about her errors. How to Be Invisible is a reference book with no equal. Here are a few of the 22 chapters:
  
  2. U.S. Mail--Serious Dangers
  7. Untraceable Trash, Anonymous Utilities
  9. Your Alternate Names and Signatures
  14. Bank Accounts and Money Transfers
  16. Hidden Ownership of Vehicles and Real Estate
  19. How to Secretly Run a Home-Based Business
  
  In addition, the book includes a 12-page index. If I had to quote just one sentence from Luna's book, it would be this one on page 20:
  
  "Do not, as long as you live, ever again allow your real name to be coupled with your home address."
  ...more info
• Brings Awareness To The Forefront.
  Many kudos for this fine book on just being a little more cognizant about your surroundings and personal information.
  This book empowers you with knowledge to be more sensitive to the times.
  ...more info