How do thieves steal an identity?

Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to steal your information, including:

Dumpster Diving - Thieves rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
Skimming - They steal credit or debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing - They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
Changing Your Address - They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
Old-Fashioned Stealing - They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records.
Pre-texting -They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources. 

What do thieves do with a stolen identity?

Once they have your personal information, identity thieves use it in a variety of ways, including:

• Credit card fraud;
• Phone or utilities fraud;
• Bank/finance fraud;
• Government documents fraud;
• Other fraud.