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Identity theft is the term often used to describe theft of personal records and exploitation of such records. Credit card and social security numbers are very common targets of information thieves. Using these, other information, such as name, date of birth, and current address can be found, and an Information Profile for that person complete. After having a profile on a person, the information their may masquerade as that person, and commit illegal / fraudulent acts, often ending with financial repercussions.
Assessing the Damage:
Having your identity stolen can be one of the most devastating and expensive forms of information theft. The damage can be extensive, personally and finically. If you suspect your identity has been stolen, immediately contact the authorities, and (in cooperation with police) any financial institutions you have an account with.
Remediation:
The appropriate steps to recover from having your identity stolen can vary with how it was stolen. However, in all cases, you should inform your bank, credit card companies, and the police. Law enforcement officials may direct you to take other steps, such as getting a new driver's licence photo, and moving your money to new bank accounts (closing out the old ones). If you believe your computer was the weakest link in your security, then (after discussing it with law enforcement, who may want to do a forensic analysis of the computer's files), you should reformat and reinstall your operating system.
Preventing Future Attacks:
Safeguarding your personal information is of the utmost priority. You should never conduct business where you need to reveal too much information, without first checking who you are dealing with. Often, information thieves will masquerade as legitimate business people, police, or other trusting figures. Always be on the lookout for requests that seam out of place, such as a request for your social security number on an ordering form. Or for a credit card number for a service that does not charge (surveys, prize contests, etc.).
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