Identity Theft is the unauthorized use of personal identifying (ID) information, such as a name, date of birth, or Social Security number, to commit financial fraud. It can include a number of crimes, from the unauthorized use of credit cards to a complete takeover of another person's name and financial accounts.
An identity thief may use someone's personal identifiers to:
Apply for Loans
Engage in Other Fraudulent Activity
Establish Services With Utility Companies
Illegally Obtain Credit Cards
Open Checking Account
Rent or Purchase Residences
Defining Identity Theft
By Illinois State Law, financial identity theft occurs when a person knowingly uses someone's personal IDs or documents to fraudulently obtain credit, money, goods, services, or other property in the name of that person.
Personal IDs may include name, address, telephone number, birth certificates, Social Security cards, credit cards used as ID's etc.
Credit may include credit cards used to make purchases, debit cards, automobile loans, etc.
Money may include cash, loans, insurance, benefits, unemployment benefits, second mortgages, etc.
Goods may include items, such as computers, automobiles, etc. Services may include bank account, utility services, etc.
Other property may include real estate, apartment rentals, or anything that does not fall into the other four categories.