WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT?
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There are several degrees of identity theft.  They range from minor transgressions, to the complete merging of identities.  In minor cases, a thief may simply use segments of a victims' identity, such as using a victim's name and credit card number to attain products or services illegally.  While this causes significant hassle in some cases, the matter can usually be resolved favorably by the victim rather quickly. 

However, in the most severe cases of identity theft, the criminal actually "becomes" the victim to various degrees.  In these cases, the thief may get a driver's license with the thief's picture and the victim's information, steal/duplicate a victim's Social Security card, and/or falsify a copy of the victim's birth certificate.  This enables them to open credit card and bank accounts in the victim's name. They may go on to assume loans in the victim's name, buying homes, cars, boats, other expensive items. When they fail to pay for these items, the financial burden falls on the victim, leaving them with tremendous debt and bad credit.  In extreme cases, the identity thief will commit crimes while masquerading as the victim, sometimes resulting in the suspension of the victim's driver's license, a criminal record, and large fines.  Victims have actually had to spend time in jail as a result of identity theft before the matter could be cleared up through fingerprinting. All of this can create stress and problems that may take months, even years, to straighten out.  All the while, one's job, family, and health may be effected.