Identity
Theft
Identity theft
is the unlawful use of another person's personal information, such
as name and date of birth, credit card numbers, Social Security
number, or driver's license information for the purpose of committing
fraud or some other form of deceptions.
The Federal
Trade Commission has estimated that 43% of fraud committed in the
United States in 2002 was related to identity theft.
Although the
unauthorized use of another person's identity is in itself a crime
under federal and Massachusetts law, it is almost always a means
of committing other crimes such as bank fraud, check fraud, credit
card fraud, Internet fraud, the fraudulent obtaining of loans, or
the avoidance of criminal prosecution.
Knowing how
to protect yourself, and what to do if you become a victim is essential
to protecting your finances and credit rating.
|
