<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
How does identity theft happen?
<|assistant|>
Identity theft is a type of cyber crime that occurs when someone accesses and uses a person's personal identifying information such as name, Social Security number, date of birth, or financial account information without their permission. Thieves can obtain this information through phishing emails, online scams, malware, unsecured databases, and physical attacks. The stolen information can be used to fraudulently apply for loans and credit cards, commit tax refund identity theft, or even open false accounts in someone else’s name. Victims can suffer severe financial losses and damage to their credit rating.