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Introduction

Whether it is Shakespeare’s “Othello” or Frederick Forsyth’s “The Day of the Jackal” that taught you about identity theft, the important thing is that you know that this kind of thing does not only happen in books. Identity theft is a real crime with real victims. As a matter of fact, it is one of the fastest growing crimes of the 21st century. Statistics show that an estimated number of 10 million people fall victims to identity theft each year. In addition, identity theft is one of the most time-consuming crimes, with approximately 300 million hours spent on resolving identity-theft-related cases. But what exactly is identity theft?

 

What is Identity Theft?

When we speak of identity theft, the first thing that comes into our mind is a person using someone else’s name. The truth is that identity theft is more complicated and serious than this. Identity theft is a federal crime that involves a number of other unlawful acts, including stealing another person’s credit card number and opening new credit card accounts using another person’s personal information.

However, identity theft is not only committed for the sole purpose of obtaining credit. Roughly 15 percent of stolen identities were used to commit tax fraud and to obtain government documents. People also steal identities to mask their participation in crimes and to deceive law enforcers. Needless to say, identity theft is a dangerous crime that can leave a victim feeling violated and exposed.

 

Further Reading: See below for more information on Identity Theft

Identity Theft And Your Credit
How An Identity Is Stolen
Preventing Identity Theft
What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft