Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone illegally obtains and uses your personal or financial information without your knowledge, often leading to significant financial harm. How It Works Identity theft occurs when a fraudster steals personal or financial information , such as Social Security numbers (SSN), bank account details, or credit card numbers, to commit fraud or theft . The stolen ...
Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information and uses it to commit crimes or make unauthorized purchases.
What is identity theft
When someone steals your identity to commit fraud it can mean using personal information without your permission, such as: Your name Social Security or Medicare number Credit card number Identity thieves may rent apartments, get credit cards, receive government benefits or tax refunds, or open other accounts in your name.
Identity theft occurs when your personal or financial information is stolen and used by someone to commit fraud. Learn how to recognize it and protect yourself from it.
Identity Theft
How To Protect Your Child From Identity Theft Learn how to protect your child's personal information and what to do if someone steals your child's identity .
Do I need to report identity theft to law enforcement? If you are experiencing fraud or believe someone has misused your personal information , you should report it to:
Criminal Division
What Are Identity Theft and Identity Fraud? Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.
What To Do Find what you can do to protect yourself from identity theft when your information has been lost or stolen, or part of a data breach Get contact information for credit bureaus and other companies Credit Bureau Contacts Other Helpful Contacts Use and share free resources to help others Everyone: ftc.gov/idtheft
Identity Theft Protection 2026
Shield Your Personal Data, Keep Your Identity Secure & Always Beware of Identity Fraud. Forbes Advisor Picks The Best Identity Theft Protection Services Of 2026.
Learn what identity theft is, its warning signs, and how to protect yourself. Find out how to report identity theft if your information gets stolen.
What To Know About Identity Theft
Learn what identity theft is, how to protect yourself against it, and how to know if someone stole your identity .