Identity theft comes in various shapes and sizes. There are several different types of identity theft, including:
- Financial Identity Theft: This occurs when someone steals your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card details, in order to obtain credit, loans, or other financial benefits in your name.
- Medical Identity Theft: This involves the theft of personal information, such as your health insurance or medical records, in order to obtain medical care or prescription drugs in your name.
- Criminal Identity Theft: In this type of identity theft, someone uses your name and personal information when they are arrested or convicted of a crime.
- Social Security Identity Theft: This occurs when someone steals your Social Security number in order to obtain employment, government benefits, or tax refunds in your name.
- Child Identity Theft: This type of identity theft involves the theft of a child’s personal information, such as their Social Security number, to fraudulently obtain credit or other benefits.
- Synthetic Identity Theft: In this type of identity theft, a criminal combines real and fake information to create a new identity.
- Tax Identity Theft: This involves the theft of personal information, such as your Social Security number, in order to file a fraudulent tax return and obtain a refund in your name.
What is Financial Identity Theft?
Financial identity theft is a type of identity theft where a person’s financial information, such as credit card or bank account details, is stolen and used to make unauthorized purchases or access funds in their accounts. The thief may use the stolen information to open new accounts or lines of credit in the victim’s name, obtain loans, or even withdraw funds from the victim’s bank accounts.
Consequences
Financial identity theft can have consequences including damage to credit scores and financial stability. Victims may be liable for fraudulent charges or unauthorized transactions made in their name, and may also have to spend a significant amount of time and money to restore their credit and financial standing.
Protective Measures
To protect against financial identity theft, it is important to regularly monitor your credit report, bank and credit card statements, and other financial accounts for any suspicious activity. You can also take steps such as shredding important documents containing personal information, using strong and unique passwords for online accounts, and being cautious about sharing personal information online or over the phone.
What is Medical Identity Theft?
Medical identity theft occurs when someone steals another person’s personal information, such as their name, date of birth, health insurance number, and medical history, in order to obtain medical care, prescription drugs, or medical equipment in the victim’s name. The thief may use the stolen information to receive medical treatment, file false insurance claims, or obtain prescription drugs that they can sell on the black market.
Consequences
Medical identity theft can have consequences including damage to medical records, incorrect diagnoses, and incorrect treatment. It can also lead to financial consequences, as the victim may be responsible for the cost of the fraudulent medical charges made in their name.
Protective Measures
To protect against medical identity theft, it is important to review your medical bills and explanation of benefits statements carefully, as well as to check your medical records periodically for any errors or suspicious activity. You can also take steps such as protecting your personal information, using strong passwords, and being cautious about sharing your medical information with others. If you suspect that you may be a victim of medical identity theft, you should contact your healthcare provider, insurance company, and law enforcement as soon as possible.
What is Criminal Identity Theft?
Criminal identity theft is a type of identity theft where someone uses another person’s identity, including their name, date of birth, and Social Security number when they are arrested or convicted of a crime. The thief may do this to avoid being caught or to hide their own criminal record.
Consequences
Criminal identity theft can have consequences including victims being mistakenly identified as the perpetrator of a crime, and may even be arrested or charged with a crime they did not commit. This can also lead to difficulties with background checks, employment, and other areas of life where a criminal record check is required.
Protective Measures
To protect against criminal identity theft, it is important to safeguard your personal information, such as your Social Security number, and to monitor your credit report and criminal history for any signs of fraudulent activity. If you suspect that you may be a victim of criminal identity theft, you should contact law enforcement immediately.
What is Social Security Identity Theft?
Social Security identity theft is a type of identity theft where someone uses another person’s Social Security number to obtain employment, government benefits, or tax refunds in the victim’s name. The thief may also use the stolen Social Security number to open credit accounts or obtain loans, which can damage the victim’s credit score and financial standing.
Consequences
Social Security identity theft can have consequences such as being denied government benefits, receiving incorrect tax statements, or facing unexpected bills for fraudulent charges or loans made in their name.
Protective Measures
To protect against Social Security identity theft, it is important to safeguard your Social Security number and to be cautious about sharing it with others. You should also monitor your Social Security earnings and benefits statements, as well as your credit report, for any signs of fraudulent activity. If you suspect that you may be a victim of Social Security identity theft, you should contact the Social Security Administration and law enforcement immediately.
- Social Security Administration Identity Theft Fact Sheet
- Social Security Administration Identity Theft and Fraud Reporting
What is Child Identity Theft?
Child identity theft occurs when someone uses a child’s personal information, such as their Social Security number or date of birth, to open credit accounts, obtain loans, or commit other fraudulent activities in the child’s name. Children are particularly vulnerable to identity theft because their credit reports may not be checked until they reach adulthood, which means that the fraud may go unnoticed for years.
Consequences
Child identity theft can have consequences such as damage to credit scores and financial standing before children can even enter adulthood. It can also create legal problems for the victim if they are wrongly held responsible for fraudulent activity committed in their name.
Protective Measures
To protect against child identity theft, it is important to safeguard your child’s personal information, such as their Social Security number and date of birth, and to monitor their credit report for any signs of fraudulent activity. You can also consider a family identity theft protection service to monitor the personal information of your children. Parents can also freeze their child’s credit report until they are old enough to establish credit on their own. If you suspect that your child may be a victim of identity theft, you should contact the credit reporting agencies and law enforcement immediately to report the fraud and take steps to restore your child’s identity.
What is Synthetic Identity Theft?
Synthetic identity theft is a type of identity theft where a thief creates a new identity by combining real and fake information. The thief may use a combination of real and fake information, such as a real Social Security number with a fake name, to create a new identity that appears legitimate to lenders, credit bureaus, and other organizations. Once the synthetic identity is created, the thief may use it to open new credit accounts, obtain loans, or commit other fraudulent activities.
Consequences
Synthetic identity theft can be difficult to detect and may go undetected for years. It can also create legal problems for the victims if they are wrongly held responsible for fraudulent activity committed in their name.
Protective Measures
To protect against synthetic identity theft, it is important to monitor your credit report regularly for any signs of suspicious activity, such as new accounts or inquiries that you did not initiate. You should also be cautious about sharing your personal information, especially your Social Security number, and use strong passwords and security measures to protect your online accounts. Organizations that extend credit or process financial transactions can also take steps to prevent synthetic identity theft, such as verifying information with multiple sources and using advanced fraud detection techniques.
What is Tax Identity Theft?
Tax identity theft is a type of identity theft where someone uses another person’s personal information, such as their name, Social Security number, and date of birth, to file a fraudulent tax return and claim a tax refund in the victim’s name. The thief may also use the stolen information to obtain employment and underreport their income to avoid paying taxes.
Consequences
Tax identity theft can have consequences such as being unable to file a tax return or receiving a tax refund. It can also create legal problems for the victim if they are wrongly held responsible for fraudulent tax activity committed in their name.
Protective Measures
To protect against tax identity theft, you should file your tax return as soon as possible to reduce the chances of someone else filing a fraudulent return in your name. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers additional tips and resources for protecting against tax identity theft, including monitoring your credit report and responding promptly to any IRS notices or letters. If you suspect that you may be a victim of tax identity theft, you should contact the IRS immediately.