What is identity theft?
Identity theft is officially defined as the deliberate assumption of another person's identity. It occurs when a criminal acquires and uses the victim's personal information—such as a Social Security or driver's license number—to take out loans, obtain new credit cards, rent an apartment, purchase a car, run up debt, file for bankruptcy and other criminal activities. Identity theft is a growing concern because it can not only damage someone's creditworthiness, it can also be flagged on routine background checks.
