Identity Theft Center - Internet Fraud - Credit
Fraud
By using your name, Social Security number, credit card number, or some other
piece of your personal information for their own use. In short, identity theft
occurs when someone appropriates your personal information without your
knowledge to commit fraud or theft.
How can someone steal your identity
| They open a new credit
card account, using your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. When
they use the credit card and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is
reported on your credit report. |
| They call your credit
card issuer and, pretending to be you, change the mailing address on your credit
card account. Then, your imposter runs up charges on your account. Because your
bills are being sent to the new address, you may not immediately realize there's
a problem. |
| They establish cellular
phone service in your name. |
| They open a bank account
in your name and write bad checks on that account. |