Most people are aware of the need to protect themselves from identity theft, but there are some who remain vulnerable despite precautions—fictional characters. Statistics show identity theft against fictional characters has doubled since 2018. Criminals are filling out credit card applications and loan paperwork in the names of well-known characters and ruining their credit in the process.

“These victims are extremely vulnerable,” says Al Ias of the Federal Trade Commission. “We tell people to guard their privacy, but their lives are an open book. It makes them easy prey.”

Easy prey is not how Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy likes to be described. In 2019, fraudsters purchased three tons of pineapples on credit using his name. According to local townspeople, Mr. Darcy’s mother-in-law had bragged far and wide about his £10,000 a year income, making him an alluring target for thieves who used his information on a Bank of Derbyshire Credit Card Application.

This happened one year after Mr. Jay Gatsby was targeted. Relying on his stellar financial reputation, crooks were able to open a medical account in his name and purchase thousands of pairs of eyeglasses from Dr. T. J. Eckleburg. In both cases, thieves made off with millions in fraudulent, fictional dollars and pounds.

Does it really matter to these fictional characters that others are getting rich on their good names? Yes, it does.

“We can’t have our heroes hampered by bad credit,” says Regina Jennings, author of Courting Misfortune. “Identity theft devastates a person’s financial reputation and hurts their romantic prospects. Their property might be fictional, but it’s the only property they have.”

So what can be done to protect fictional characters? Mainly, guard their private information. Authors should carefully consider before sharing too much of their background. The public doesn’t need to know their mother’s maiden name or their birthplace. Also, specifics on birth dates should be avoided. An innocent party scene can be used by fraudsters to determine their birth date and give criminals another tool with which to defraud them. Even pets’ names should be used sparingly. Consider giving fictional characters a fictional, fictional dog instead of sharing their real fictional dog’s name.

While it might take some time and forethought to safeguard our fictional friends, we owe it to them. There can be serious consequences for victims of identity theft, from being included in a criminal investigation, to losing a tax rebate, to finding one’s credit ruined. They, like everyone else, deserve justice and protection. They trust us with their stories. Let’s not leave them defenseless.

The post Identity Theft Finds New Victims appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

To read more about the project, please visit the Trust Chronicles website. To read the blog posts with the letters, click each author’s name below.

And now for the winners!

The grand prize…the Trust Chronicles antique keepsake box, containing each heroine’s letter, hand-inscribed by the author, and a special keepsake to accompany each letter…the winner is Bonnie Roof!
 

Monday, May 13th: Regina Jennings (Heroine: Molly Lovelace, Love in the Balance) – The winner is…Wendy Lawton!

The post The Trust Chronicles Winners! appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

Have you entered the Love in the Balance Kindle Fire giveaway? If not you are running out of time! Not only are we giving away a Kindle Fire, but also books, gift certificates and some lovely prizes…I think I heard someone mention Moleskin journals.  I don’t know how many moles it takes to cover a journal, but anyway…

Go to the link below to enter…and I’d love to chat with you this Thursday night on Facebook!

Enter the Love in the Balance Kindle Fire Giveaway!

The post Big Party! Tons of Giveaways! This Week! appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

It’s here! It’s here!

After a year of writing and a year of editing, Love in the Balance is finally hitting the bookshelves (and mailboxes). Launch season is always busy, so this time around instead of competing with my guest posts by posting here as well, I’m going to link to the other fine blogs I’m visiting. Maybe you’ll find some new websites to bookmark.

And before I get started I want to invite you to the Love in the Balance Launch Party in Mustang, Oklahoma. It’s on Saturday, February 23, from 3:30 to 5:30 at LD’s Gourmet Cafe, 234 N. Mustang Rd. We’ll have door prizes, yummy desserts and of course autographed books. I’d love to meet you there.

Guest Blog Posts:

2/18/13 – Christian Mom Thoughts (Why Fiction is Important in the Development of Kids’ Faith)

The post Love in the Balance Launch Party appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.