What Is Identity Theft?

Identity theft occurs when a criminal acquires and uses someones personal information and then uses that information to, in a sense, become that person for a while. The most common uses of identity theft are credit card and check fraud. Some other uses that can occur are illegal immigration, blackmail, various crimes or just attacking an individual for revenge. Identity theft can really destroy someone’s life for months or even years. The most common result is destruction of credit, but the havoc this crime wreaks is much more far-reaching.

People often get credit cards and open bank accounts in the victim’s name and buy all kinds of expensive merchandise that they can either keep or sell for cash. In extreme cases, loans can be taken out for thousands of dollars and the identity thief can simply disappear. Luckily, a photo identification is necessary for high priced transactions, and loans require much more detailed information most of the time.

Credit is not the only thing that can be destroyed by identity theft. Many times, criminals will use your personal information to get a driver’s license because they are already wanted or because they plan to commit a crime (or crimes) very soon. If these criminals rent a car that is used in a crime, guess who is the first suspect? Thats right, its YOU. By the time you even realize this has happened, your name and picture might be all over the news.

This can annihilate your good name in your community or even the entire country. Even when it is proved you had absolutely nothing to do with the crime, people will still associate you with that particular event.

Here Are Some Resources to Get Started

See These Paper Shredders

RFID Blocking Products