Welcome to the FAQ (frequently asked questions) websites for Identity Theft. You might ask how can someone steal your identity? Identity theft is when someone uses your personal information, such as your social security number, without your knowledge to open accounts or make purchases in your name.The people involved in identity theft are committing fraud, but unfortuantely, the victim of identity theft can suffer greatly from a ruined credit rating. Once identity theft affects your credit rating, you may find it difficult to buy a house or car or even obtain a loan of any kind. In the most extreme cases, victims of identity theft have have been arrested for crimes they didn't commit.
First Steps to Take If You Suspect You Are The Victim of Identity Theft
The first thing you should do if you suspect you've been the victim of identity theft is to contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus. By placing a fraud alert on your credit file, creditors will be asked to contact you before opening any more credit accounts in your name.Proving Yourself the Victim of Identity Theft
It may not seem fair, but many times the victims of identity theft find themselves in a battle to prove they are innocent. This involves convincing creditors that you are truly a victim of fraud and that you are not trying to get out of paying a legitimate debt.National & State Trends in Identity Theft
The Federal Trade Commission tracked over a half a million consumer fraud and identity theft complaints in 2003 and vicitms of identity theft reported losses of more than $400 million.Common Tactics Used by the Identity Thief
It's become a common practice among identity thieves to pose as legitimate companies and request "account information" from consumers. In many cases, this involves setting up a fake website that mimics the look of a legitimate website and then sending millions of SPAM emails to attempt to attract people to the phony website and trick them into entering their sensitive information.Ways to Avoid Having Your Identity Stolen
The Federal Trade Commission has a consumer alert titled "How Not to Get Hooked By A Phishing Scam" to warn consumers who receive email that claims an account will be shut down unless they reconfirm their billing information.