1. FOUR TYPES OF IDENTITY THEFT

2. 1. FINANCIAL IDENTITY THEFT  Just using your stolen credit card details to buy things is the example we all know about and guard against.  Your telephone bills may soar if a thief is able to use your telephone calling card or otherwise get access to your telephone account.  The identity theft criminal may get even bolder, and take out debts in your name, obtain a new credit card, sign up for a telephone or electricity account, lease a car, or take out an apartment lease.

3. 2. CRIMINAL IDENTITY THEFT  Some criminals will prepare for the risk of being caught by the authorities by having someone else's identity ready.  The most common example is in traffic violations. They may even carry a false driver's license in your name, bearing their photograph, just in case they get caught.  The first you know is when you get the citation for not responding to the charge.  Access to drinking establishments when under the minimum legal age is another common example.  Another example is using your stolen license plate to steal fuel in "drive offs" from service stations. It is your number plate that appears on the security cameras.

4. 3. CLONING IDENTITY THEFT  Occasionally criminals will take on someone else's identity to get a passport or driver's licence, or to access data, when they have their normal channels blocked.  They may even steal an identity to start a totally new life, perhaps if they are wanted persons.  Illegal immigrants, criminals, bankrupts and even abuse victims may use this approach to start a new life, as you.

5. 4. COMMERCIAL IDENTITY THEFT  Businesses can also find themselves embroiled in identity theft problems. A tenant may sell off the landlord's furniture, purporting to be the owner.  A person may gain access to premises or data by falsely using an authorized person's identity.  At the other extreme, a company may have to deal with purchasers or creditors waving contracts signed by an identity thief who falsely claimed to have represented the company when entering into a large transaction.  At this stage the identity thief has usually long vanished with the proceeds of the crime.

6. http://www.ira.com/preventing-identity-theft

7. WORKS CITED http://www.homelivinganswers.com/identity-theft/categories-of-identity- theft.html http://www.homelivinganswers.com/identity-theft/categories-of-identity- theft.html Images: Money- sigmanuht.com Chart- http://www.ira.com/preventing-identity-theft