What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is a crime in which a person obtains key
pieces of information about someone other than themselves
and then uses this information for his or her own gain,
financial or otherwise.

There are currently four types of identity theft recognized
by the majority of consumer groups, businesses, and law
enforcement agencies. They are:

1) FINANCIAL: This type of ID theft is defined by
someone using your personal information, such as a Social
Security number or name, in order to obtain other types of
credit and/or merchandise in your name.

2) CRIMINAL: This type involves the use of the victim’s
personal information to avoid legal prosecution. A criminal will
provide your information to law enforcement officials. This
allows the criminal to disappear behind a false identity.
Eventually the courts will issue an arrest warrant in order to
capture the criminal - but it will be in your name!

3) IDENTITY CLONING: This occurs when an imposter
uses your personal information to begin a new life for
themselves. They are trying to escape from their past
mistakes and records and so they take on a new identity -
yours.

4) COMMERCIAL IDENTITY THEFT: A criminal will
obtain credit and open banking accounts to obtain goods
and/or services in the name of the business. The business
winds up with the bills, the collections, and all the headaches.