Preventing Identity Theft

Christine E. Jensen, Utah State University

Abstract

Identity theft is becoming more common and is a very serious crime. Victims of identity theft can spend months or years and a lot of hard earned money cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. Identity thieves can use your personal information to take over your credit accounts and open new ones. They may even use your good credit to get a job, take out a car loan, or rent an apartment. Identity theft victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn’t commit.