 What is Identity Theft?
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The crime of identity theft
occurs when
someone, without your knowledge, acquires a piece of your personal
information and uses it to commit fraud.
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Look what identity
thieves have been
known to do...
In some cases, with as
little as a stolen name, date of birth, and social security number, the
identity thief is able to cause major damage. |
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Credit card fraud is the most common type of
identity theft.
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The thief pretends to be the victim, calls the credit card company and changes the
mailing address on an existing account.
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Or, more commonly,
the thief opens a new credit card account in the victim's name.
Because
the bills are being sent to a new address, the victim doesn't realize
there's a problem. The thief then uses the credit card without paying the bills,
ruining your credit. |
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 The second category,
(about half the number of victims as credit card fraud) is where an
identity thief signs up for cell phone, long distance service, or
utilities in
the victim's name.
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The third category,
(about one third the size of credit card fraud) involves depository
accounts. The thief opens a bank account in
the victim's name, makes electronic funds transfers, and/or writes
bad checks on the account.
Loan fraud involves using a victim's name to take out a loan.
 
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Other
categories include,
-
 Employment
- getting a job using the
victims name and identity
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Social Security
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Tax Returns
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Medical
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Residential Leases
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Securities and Investments
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Bankruptcy Fraud
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Illegal Immigration and
Miscellaneous government documents
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If it happens to you, the damage to your
credit and daily life can be devastating. ID theft victims often are
unable to get new credit cards or loans because their credit ratings are
harmed so badly.
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