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HEARD THE ONE ABOUT IDENTITY THEFT?
Comedian Bennett Arron was in serious debt. He owed thousands of pounds to phone networks, banks and department stores. Only it wasn’t him. Bennett had become one of Britain's first major victims of Identity Theft. It left him and his pregnant wife penniless and homeless.
Years later Bennett made a documentary on the subject, in which he stole the identity of the Home Secretary. As a result of the programme Bennett was shortlisted for a BAFTA and arrested in a dawn raid by Scotland Yard.
This is a true, disturbing and very funny account of what it's like to have your identity stolen and shows the devastating consequences of proving a point in the public interest.
Enjoy reading it. Whoever you are.
Years later Bennett made a documentary on the subject, in which he stole the identity of the Home Secretary. As a result of the programme Bennett was shortlisted for a BAFTA and arrested in a dawn raid by Scotland Yard.
This is a true, disturbing and very funny account of what it's like to have your identity stolen and shows the devastating consequences of proving a point in the public interest.
Enjoy reading it. Whoever you are.
129 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2015
1 person is currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 9, 2023
(4.5 stars)
This was an intriguing and very well written book about identity theft, based on Bennett's personal experience. I learnt a lot about how easy it is to commit identity theft, what measures you can take to prevent it and how it can destroy your life, including upending it.
I also found looking in to the life of a stand up comedian interesting, although a couple of the jokes did fall flat for me.
The bits on the documentary, the whole process of making it and how those running channel 4 were a hindrance not a help was enlightening and fascinating.
I would definitely recommend this book.
This was an intriguing and very well written book about identity theft, based on Bennett's personal experience. I learnt a lot about how easy it is to commit identity theft, what measures you can take to prevent it and how it can destroy your life, including upending it.
I also found looking in to the life of a stand up comedian interesting, although a couple of the jokes did fall flat for me.
The bits on the documentary, the whole process of making it and how those running channel 4 were a hindrance not a help was enlightening and fascinating.
I would definitely recommend this book.
September 16, 2017
This was an interesting read. At times shocking & surprising but happily interspersed with light hearted humour, much as I imagine the documentary should have looked!
Do read it... it's an easy read in terms of the writing but the subject matter makes it a little uncomfortable at times... as it should!
Do read it... it's an easy read in terms of the writing but the subject matter makes it a little uncomfortable at times... as it should!
February 26, 2019
Funny indeed and so informative!
October 1, 2019
Excellent read
Read in one sitting. A terrible experience relayed in such an engaging way. Now I need to find the documentary
Read in one sitting. A terrible experience relayed in such an engaging way. Now I need to find the documentary
September 24, 2020
This is a very important and eye-opening book. I recommend this to everyone. Shocking the extent to which someone can steal your identity and ruin your life. What a journey.
January 31, 2016
Started this in the morning - read half - finished the second half this afternoon.
Fascinating stuff - and well written, in as much as it's an easy read. Holds together nicely with the right mix of dark notes and a comic side thrown in to lighten it all. Doesn't actually go into too much detail about certain aspects (understandable really as I'm sure there'd be copycats out there with not honorable intentions, which Arron obviously had). Really interesting.... think I'll be shredding far more of my post now than I was previously!
What an awful situation to be in - and even worse for a young man and his pregnant wife. Glad to see that he came out the other side (saw Bennett in a local comedy club Whitstable, Kent) and that things are on a more positive note for him now. Thanks for writing this - it's an insight into an awful crime - and yes, crime it certainly is.
Fascinating stuff - and well written, in as much as it's an easy read. Holds together nicely with the right mix of dark notes and a comic side thrown in to lighten it all. Doesn't actually go into too much detail about certain aspects (understandable really as I'm sure there'd be copycats out there with not honorable intentions, which Arron obviously had). Really interesting.... think I'll be shredding far more of my post now than I was previously!
What an awful situation to be in - and even worse for a young man and his pregnant wife. Glad to see that he came out the other side (saw Bennett in a local comedy club Whitstable, Kent) and that things are on a more positive note for him now. Thanks for writing this - it's an insight into an awful crime - and yes, crime it certainly is.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews