"I got my identity stolen last (fill in the blank month) ... someone was able to take money out of my bank account. Until it's all settled, I'm (fill in the blank: avoiding US banks, or I'm using money order, etc etc.)

I actually did get my identity stolen last June and found that this reason works very well for defeating people who are questioning any of my unusual actions in pursuit of preserving my privacy.

Now the bank is questioning why I am mailing in so many and I'm not sure what to say. Basically I was afraid that banks would fail, so I slowly pulled out cash.

We're moving to Canada so I wanted to move that money into the country.

I'm just worried they will report me or something. Any idea what I should say?

Thanks. Attached article is about currency controls that went into effect March 18, 2010. FWIW

Submitted Link #1: http://www.zerohedge.com/article/its-official-amer...

... Give the bank some reason, and stop using money orders. Merrill Lynch, for example, will not accept multiple money orders either because it appears to be money laundering.

The greater risk to your privacy is not the people you show your id to - it is the databases in which the photos are kept. Coupled with sophisticated recognition algorithms those databases have an enormous potential for abuse. Imagine if those databases were made available to big merchants who put cameras at every cashier so they could de-anonymize anyone paying with cash. Or just on every street corner so that your ability to move about freely is reduced - after all most of England already has enough public cameras to pull that off.

In the past, many states sold those databases to anyone with enough money. The SCOTUS has limited but not eliminated such privacy breaches - and it certainly wouldn't take much more than some concerted lobbying (or terrorist fear-mongering) to further weaken the protections in place.

Look at it this way - there is only a very minor upside to you in having a clear and exact photo in the database, but the potential downside will only increase as technology progresses and the push for centralized identity gets stronger. So why not spend a little time to take some preventative measures when you have the chance?

... I give my opinions on this site. Feel free to ignore them.

Good news, though, is that if you "inactivate" the chip, the passport is still valid. Some say microwave or cell radiation can neutralize the chip.

In light of this, I believe the passport card is an excellent addition to the book for ID purposes, etc.

... [My passport is just prior to August 07.]

Besides if someone wants to see two forms of ID I show them my passport card and passport.

Submitted Link #1: http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card...

... Quoted from the link below: "...the passport card has a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. With this technology, Customs and Border Protection inspectors are able to access photographs and other biographical information stored in secure government databases before the traveler reaches the inspection station."

The way an umbrella corp works is that they set you up as a sort of division within their corporation. They then handle all the paperwork - including invoicing and tax compliance. They take a couple of percent of the net for their fee.

It certainly is not the most private way to go, but there are some privacy benefits in that you only need disclose information to the umbrella corp who then are essentially a proxy for all your business dealings with clients - and since you are the paying customer for their services their fiduciary loyalty is to you - not any of your clients.

FWIW, the next time I have to suffer being photographed like that I intend to grow a thick beard and to stuff cotton balls between my upper gums and cheeks in order to distort the appearance of my cheekbones. I'm considering putting cotton balls in my nostrils to distort the shape of my nose too - I haven't experimented enough with that one to see what's practical.

... Note to readers: I am unimpressed by suggestions to alter one's appearance for the DL photo. If you use a passport for ID, then the only ones who will ever see your DL are a cop (if you are pulled over) or a rental agent (if you rent a car). In either case, I see no advantage to appear as if you were someone else. Maybe a disadvantage?

You want the DL photo to be the opposite of your normal appearance.

Hi Jack,

In “Skip College” you advise against incorporating or getting a DBA/TIN/EIN when running your own business. As an independent computer consultant I cannot feasibly operate on a “cash” only basis with my corporate clients. I have arrangements with my clients where (under IRS restrictions) I cannot act as a 1099 consultant and others where I can.

I no longer want to operate as a W-2 employee for any of my clients and I also want to limit my liability in the unlikely event that something goes wrong. The only option I see to get around the liability and “employee vs. independent contractor” issues is to form an LLC or S-Corp and renegotiate all of my contracts to flow through the new company.

Am I missing something, or is this really the only way to go? At a minimum I will always be able to hide my home address through the use of a ghost address, and my principal place of business will be in a very remote part of California without public access or Google “street view”. Nevertheless, my name will be out there. I’m thinking of using my middle/last name for the corporate documentation, and (since I mostly consult with financial institutions) can have a "trustworthy" strictly business bank account with one of my clients (or should I bank with a non-client?)

Do any readers out there have any suggestions?