Identity Theft Is More than a Fraudulent Credit Card Charge

It seems like you cannot tune into the news without hearing about identity theft. You know the story, the perpetrators may open credit cards using personal information, make purchases, take out loans or transfer funds.

But there is something that this constant stream of news is missing, and not educating yourself can put you at risk. 80% of all identity theft cases are not related to credit card or financial theft. With only 20% of identity theft getting 90% of the airtime, people continue to be put at risk for identity theft in ways that are more harmful and more prevalent than anything that may affect your credit history.

What happens if you are victim of a much more serious form of identity theft?

Identity thieves have been known to use victims’ personal information to commit crimes, which then show up on the victims’ background reports. Imagine being pulled over for speeding, only to discover that you have already been convicted for a crime you had nothing to do with.

Another form of identity theft includes the use of your personal data to obtain medical procedures in your name, which can have results far worse than financial loss. Your medical records could contain inaccurate information, which in turn, could lead to improper care in the case of an emergency. These types of identity theft are not only difficult to fix, but for the average consumer, nearly impossible to detect on their own.

Sunday starts the beginning of National Protect Your Identity Week, so we thought it would be a good time to remind you about these issues and the steps you can take to improve awareness of your personal information.

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