Identity theft refers to something that is stolen and which has very private data. Often people are observed to be least worried about their belongings and this is the chance that is taken by criminals to steal what is most private to you.

Things like your credit cards, mobile phones, computers, USB drives and many more have your private data. If this data goes into wrong hands, then it can prove dangerous to you. In spite of knowing all these factors, there are many people who still don’t take good care of their private data stores. With inclusion of all these, there is one more aspect of identity theft; fraud in your credit report.

This is more dangerous than any of your other things that are stolen. In short, stealing all such private assets and using them as the original person is using it, is called as identity theft. It is just like criminal has turned himself into you while using your assets.

Types of identity theft

There can be various criterias on which types of identity thefts can be determined. Here are some of the major types:

• Identity theft involving some character theft: This is one of the first types of identity thefts that occurred. In this type, criminal impersonates as if he was you and performs some crime which result in warrants and arrests that are made to you because for the world, it is you that have performed crime. This can be easily performed when there are twins. Because the fact that twins has same faces, one can easily impersonate the other and can make wrong use of it.  
• Identity theft including Social Security Number (SSN): Every individual is associated with a social security number which is his identity wherever he goes in the country. This SSN if stolen can cause loss of life sustaining benefits to the victim. Also, criminal may steal this number and earn salary on behalf of you and then you are forced to pay taxes on your earnings which actually you have not earned!
• Medical assistance on your name: One can obtain a medical insurance on your behalf and then use the benefits provided by that policy on your behalf. Some one can steal your current medical policy and gain benefits on it. And by the time you need those benefits, you are denied from getting it as you have reached their limits.  
• Driving licence identity theft: Some one can perform driving crime on your name and show fake licence of your name. When case goes in court, warrant is issued on your name.
• Credit Thefts: This is the most commonly noted identity thefts in today’s world. Some one can obtain your information and fill any form on basis of it. He can also obtain loans and some other policies on your behalf and then you will have to repay interest

Some other types

There are also many other types of identity thefts such as: computer identity theft, credit cards theft, internet identity theft, criminal identity theft, passport identity theft and more.