Identity theft can occur in many different forms - from the fraudulent use of your personal credit card to someone “acting” as you to commit a crime. There are two catagories of Identity Theft: Personal Security Theft & Financial Security Theft. The three main types of identity theft are: financial, criminal and cloning.⁽¹⁾

Financial identity theft involves an imposter's use of personal identifying information to establish new credit lines, order telephone services, lease cars, rent apartments or take over checking accounts.

Criminal identity theft occurs when a criminal gives the victim's personal identifying information in place of their own identity to law enforcement. Arrest warrants can result for the identity theft victim.

Cloning Identity occurs when an imposter uses a victim's information to establish a new life. He or she actually lives and works as the victim.

⁽¹⁾ "Identity Aftermath Study" by Identity Theft Resource Center, September 2003.