Identity theft is a crime growing in it severity. A person can pretend to be someone else in obtaining credit cards and possibly a loan. Although the victim of identity theft may not be responsible for payments for the thief, it can severely affect a credit history. Identity theft results when the perpetrator acquires a social security number of the intended victim and applies for credit using the alternative number. When the identity thief fails to pay debts, this is recorded as bad credit in the victim’s credit history. The damage to a credit history can be very problematic and sometimes detrimental. The victim of identity theft finds credit difficult and sometimes impossible to obtain.

A routine check on credit history is simple to obtain through a credit report. Any discrepancies should be immediately reported to authorities. Any individual with credit history can use credit reports as a form of protection against identity theft.