Identity Theft

Identity Theft

Identity theft is the fastest-growing nonviolent crime in North America today. When someone steals personal information from you such as your driver's license number, social security number, or social insurance number, or other identifying information to use for illegal purposes, you have become a victim of identity theft.

The thief could use your personal information to apply for credit cards in your name or open a checking account and write bad checks in your name. Your credit rating and your reputation could be severely damaged by identity theft.

Victims of identity theft often suffer substantial economic and emotional harm. A victim will spend an inordinate amount of time fighting problems such as loan denials, credit card application rejections, bounced checks, and debt-collection harassment. Many identity theft victims also report feeling personal violated.

Thieves have stolen identities of teens and changed the birth dates. In some cases, teenagers applying for college loans have been told their credit rating was destroyed years ago by identity theft.

There have been cases in which an identity thief used the victim's name when caught during a criminal act. Some identity theft victims face criminal investigation, arrest, or conviction because of the thieves' activities. For example, one victim was the subject of an arrest warrant based on speeding tickets issued to an ID thief. Some identity theft victims have also been denied employment or lost their jobs as a result of their identities having been stolen and used in illegal activities.

Any information that describes or identifies you is considered personal information. This information could exist in any number of forms. For example, you may have had an ID-badge picture taken at work, paid a parking ticket, applied for credit cards or a mortgage, or bought a car. In each case, you have released some personal information that could be used to perpetrate identity theft.

Some of this information is harmless and is useless to identity thieves. However, some of it is dangerous and needs to be controlled and protected. Some examples of personal information that you should protect are your:

- Birth date; - City of birth; - Driver's license number; - Passport number; - Home address; - Social security number; - Phone numbers; - email addresses; - Family members' names and birth dates.

More than ever before, companies and governments are asking for your personal data. Every time you apply for credit, get a new job, make travel arrangements, or even make a purchase at a store, someone is demanding your personal information. Unfortunately, every time you release this information, the risk that it will be stolen increases. You could spend months or years trying to clear your name from identity theft.