Generally speaking, no -- but it's a bit more complicated. Identity theft occurs when a thief steals someone's personal information and uses it to commit fraud. Stealing credit card information is generally a consequence of identity theft.  If a thief only gains access to your credit card information, they can't commit the same level of fraud as someone who commits identity theft. They'll be able to rack up debt on your account and may gain access to your home address and credit card account information, but they generally cannot access your sign-on information or other personal details that would allow them to open new accounts in your name.