How
Identity Theft Affects You
 The
cost of identity theft can be quite staggering. Victims expend
extensive time closing fraudulent accounts,
opening new ones, and fixing damaged credit records.
There
can be costly out-of-your-pocket expenditures related to
clearing your name after an ID theft. You could well be denied
loans,
new credit cards, corporate benefits and jobs — and,
though very unlikely, you could even be erroneously arrested
by the authorities as a result of crimes committed in your
name.
Where Your Personal Information Is
Used 
Identity
thieves commonly open new banking accounts in your name.
Often, they apply for new credit cards using
your personal
information, make fraudulent charges, and leave the bills
unpaid. It is also usual for them to set up telephone
or other utility
services in your name and not pay for it eventually.
How
ID Thieves Operate
New research confirms that four out of
every five victims have no idea how an identity thief obtained
their personal
information.
Among those who think they know what happened, many
believe that the identity theft occurred when their purse
or
wallet was stolen or lost.
Identifying the Identity Thief
Victims of identity
theft can often find that someone they know has committed
the crime. They can be roommates,
hired
help, and landlords. All of them can easily have
access to your home, and it is possible for them
to access
very private
information. Identity theft within families is
also common.
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