About Identity Theft
Identity theft is when a criminal uses another person's personal information to take on that person's identity. Identity theft is much more than the misuse of a Social Security number, it can entail credit card and mail fraud as well.
One bit of personal information is all a criminal needs to steal your identity. Once identity thieves get your personal information, they may:
- Call your credit card company and change your billing address
- Open new credit cards under your name.
- Establish wireless phone service in your name.
- Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks.
- File for bankruptcy under your name.
- Buy a car in your name.
- Get identification such as driver's license with their picture and your name.
- And the list goes on...