Other Types of Identity Fraud

Beside the most common type of identity theft, in which a criminal will use your good credit to obtain financial services, there are other, harder-to-detect forms of identity fraud.


This page:

  • lists the types of identity fraud which might not show up in your credit file

  • Outlines steps to take to prevent a crime from happening

  • Explains what to do if you've been a victim of identity fraud

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Identity fraud doesn't have to involve your credit

As we've stated before, identity theft occurs when one person impersonates another by stealing their personal information. Most often this information is used to open a credit card account or take out a loan.

But not always.

Criminals are very enterprising. There are ways to steal identity and profit from it that haven't been thought of yet, and there are certainly many types of identity fraud that law enforcement isn't aware of.

Here's a list of things to watch for:

  • Bank accounts, such as checking accounts, can often be set up without a credit check being run. If an identity thief gets checks in your name and starts bouncing them around town, who do you think will be in trouble, eventually?

  • Your information could be used to set up a utility account, such as phone service, or gas and electric. Charges on these types of accounts don't normally show up in your credit report, until the account goes into collection. By then, you're in big trouble.

  • ID thieves could assume your identity to gain employment. This happens when a criminal doesn't want to reveal a past criminal record. If he or she gets in trouble at work, the police could come looking for you. It happens every day.

  • Criminals could use your information to register a vehicle or to obtain a driver's license. Can you imagine the consequences if there is an accident?

  • Nothing against illegal immigrants, but there have been instances in the past of people assuming the identity of U.S. citizens to obtain U.S. passports, and therefore citizenship. This could pose a real problem for you if you try to leave the country, and someone else has a passport in your name. Dealing with the Department of Homeland Security is as un-fun as it sounds.

Sidebar
Even though many of the above instances of identity fraud don't show up in your credit report right away, the end results often do. For this reason, it is a good idea to always be on top of what is going on with your credit files at all three credit bureaus. With Equifax 3-in-1 monitoring, you'll receive email alerts whenever a change is posted to any of your credit reports, such as credit inquiry, or any new accounts.

What to do if you are a victim of identity fraud

If you feel like you have fallen victim to any of the above scams, or any other form of identity theft, you must act quickly.

First off, contact the institutions involved and explain the situation; most banks, utility companies, and even the DMV now have departments which specialize in dealing with identity fraud (thanks to the fact that this type of crime has been growing exponentially).

Second, you should take steps to protect your good name by locking your credit profile to prevent further abuse. There are different ways of doing this, and if you have been a victim, many states allow you do it for free. (Though this may take a while).

We'll discuss in detail all the actions you should take if you've been a victim of identity fraud, on the next page.