What Is Identity Theft?

What To Do If You Are a Victim?

Unfortunately, for those who have been victims of identity theft, there is nothing at all humorous about the experience.

People have not only lost their credit ratings, money, and reputations due to identity theft, spent years trying to straighten out their lives, have been refused loans, educational opportunities, job offers, and have even been arrested for crimes they did not commit.

The following articles look at what identity theft is, how it can be prevented, and what to do if you think you have become a victim:

New Law Stiffens Penalties for Identity Theft
The Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act, which increases existing penalties for the crime of identity theft, establishes aggravated identity theft as a criminal offense, and establishes mandatory penalties for aggravated identity theft.

Prevent Identity Theft From Happening to You
Identity theft or identity fraud, the fastest growing crime in the United States, is the taking of a victim's identity for financial gain or to conceal the real identity of the perpetrator.

If Your Identity Has Been Stolen
You can spend years and a lot of money to clean up the mess from having your identity stolen. Here are the first steps that you need to take, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Get Credit Reports
If you have been a victim of identity theft, the first thing you need to do is obtain a copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus.

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