Identity Theft Overview
Identity Theft Definition-- Identity theft is the illegal theft, possession and/or use of another person's personal or financial data.
Every day you probably conduct several financial transactions with checks or credit or debit cards like buying gas, purchasing groceries at the store, or making a purchase online. Other times you may need to apply for loans, new credit cards, or even a job. In addition, many companies with which you do business retain your personal and credit information in their records. The fact is that once an unscrupulous individual obtains your personal
information from any source it can be used without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.
Identity theft is a serious crime.
People whose identities have been stolen often spend countless hours and hundreds or even thousands of dollars
cleaning up the mess the thieves have
made of their good name and credit record.
Identity theft victims may lose out on job opportunities, and
loans for education, housing, or cars. Even worse, they may
even be arrested for crimes they didn’t commit.
Can identity theft be prevented?
In today's modern society it probably isn't possible to totally eliminate the risk of having your identity stolen. However, you can dramatically reduce the risk by carefully guarding your personal and financial information. This site provides useful information on how to prevent identity theft, what to do if you suspect your identity has been stolen, and the steps to follow if it has.
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