what is identity theft 
identity theft is the use of an individual s personal or financial information to carry out fraud in that person s name identity theft has ballooned in recent years because there are so many ways to steal information beyond straightforward pickpocketing most are digital methods like installing skimmers at atms and fuel pumps pirating users of public wi fi or phishing for information from unwary consumers 6the bottom linefraud artists commonly target businesses like insurance companies and banks but they often need to involve innocent individuals to pull it off identity theft involves using other people s personal information to steal items of value securities fraud means conning individual investors into buying stock based on false information plenty of government and corporate resources are devoted to fighting fraud but individual consumers need to be wary to avoid being victimized 