And worse, that person might be you. Trans Union, one of the nation's three major credit reporting companies, estimates that an average 2,000 people call its credit fraud hot line every day. That's up from a total of 1,200 fraud calls during the hot line's first year in 1992. For victims, the nightmare might begin when someone steals a wallet or check. Or when someone pilfers financial or other records with identifying information from a trash can.
Some victims become aware of the crime within days.
Others are left completely in the dark for months even years. One day you could be turned down for a job, a loan, or a mortgage because of an extensive history of bad debt that you never incurred. The lengthy process victims endure to untangle the web of fraud is draining both financially and psychologically. Identity theft ultimately affects more than just the victim. The following frequently asked questions include valuable tips and resources to help you prevent identity theft, as well as to detect and remedy fraudulent activity that could stain your credit record.