What kind of damage can identity thieves?

Identity thieves can cost money, time, your personal reputation, and much more. Steal your digital profile (IE. credit cards, social security number, bank account numbers, driver's license, etc.) can be a nightmare come true. Let's briefly examine how serious the problem could be.

Criminals who gain access to your personal information can make illegal purchases in your name. Of course, thieves fail to pay their illegal bills and shows on your credit report and drive down your credit score. These same people can open new accounts and repeat the process. You can be caught know months until bill collectors start to contact you.

People who gain access to your confidential information, can apply for student loans, mobile phone accounts, renting a home, take a vacation, opening a utility company (electric or water), obtain medical or other services in your name. You can even find yourself being arrested, because the "fraudulent you" actually was arrested and was unable to demonstrate to a court hearing.

A criminal who has obtained your electronic profile, including your social security number, you can even get jobs in your name, registering for benefits with local, State or federal agencies or take out a personal loan using your name. Each of the "threat vectors" mentioned above is real and happening all too often.

People in Government, law enforcement officials and merchants of all types are aware of the problem. The way in which we perform e-commerce is something imperfect and a window of opportunities that exist for identity thieves. You would be unaware that a problem exists until collectors come after you for failing to meet your fraudulent obligations.

Unraveling rod is a real problem, which can cost you time, money and your personal reputation. The task of correcting out everything can go on for years. There is a process that is set up to help you do it, but you must "cross every 't and dot all the ' most important '. Otherwise, the companies in which fraud was committed be unsympathetic. Some jurisdictions do not allow transmission of identity theft.

A couple discovered their identity was used to buy computers and deliver to an alternant address. The offender would receive the shipment and probably resell the computers. The same couple of identity was used to buy tires for the same purpose. Crimes reported to local law enforcement officials and they refused to take a report. Their reason not to allow the reporting of the crime was that "there are too many incidents like this for us to handle". The bottom line is that the load falls after a victim of identity theft. The innocent individual is presumed guilty until he or she can prove that the accusations are false.

You should do everything within your power to prevent identity theft from occurring to you. You must adopt security best practices in various stages of your life and follow. You must be familiar with the threat environment and remedies and respond quickly when you discover that you are a victim of identity theft.