If a thief has enough information, he or she may be able to impersonate you to purchase items, open new accounts, or apply for loans. The internet has made it easier for thieves to obtain personal and financial data. Most companies and other institutions store information about their clients in databases; if a thief can access that database, he or she can obtain information about many people at once rather than focus on one person at a time. Report identity theft to the FTC Even though the police station would be the first people you will think of when asking for help or when reporting an identity theft, do not place much hope that the police will get very far in investigating your case. Identity theft cases rarely end in arrests because the guilty party can too easily cover his or her tracks. They call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, change the mailing address on your credit card account. Then, your imposter incur charges on your account in your name and have the bills sent to the new address. This is why most people may not immediately realize that there's a problem. They establish cellular phone service in your name. Every educated, adult knows the concept of universal right and wrong as far as execution of freedom is concerned like the way no one kills to end someone else's life. As a unique person, freedom means having one identity you claim as yours with ultimate glory. Then one day, you discover someone is using your identity; you freak out: "something is very wrong. Never giver credit card numbers or other personal information over the phone unless you initiate the call. Even if you initiate the call, ensure that called party is not using a cellular or other mobile phone. Carry only the credit cards needed for the current trip. Most people carry all their credit cards with them at all times. With today s technology and the growing sophistication of the world wide web, hackers and con artists are now living in a world that used to only exist in the pages of a science fiction book or a scene in a suspense-thriller movie. This can be a major problem for anyone because not only will you have to worry about your personal properties like credit cards and bank accounts, you also have to think about the fact that someone else is using your name and your reputation to do god-knows what.