Definition:
The crime of stealing someone's personal, identifying information for the purpose of using that information fraudulently. Personal, identifying information includes: Social Security Numbers, credit card and banking account numbers, usernames, passwords, and patient records. Fraudulent uses for that information can often include: opening new credit accounts, taking out loans in the victim's name, stealing money from financial accounts, or using available credit.
The crime of identity theft is most often committed by organized crime rings or desperate individuals with opportunity.
Examples: Bob realized he was a victim of identity theft when he learned that dozens of credit card accounts in his name, which he had never opened, were in default.