Guide
Other Types of Identity Theft
Credit identity theft dominates the headlines, but it is only one category. The theft of your identity can affect your taxes, medical records, criminal history, employment eligibility, government benefits, and financial accounts - each with its own remediation path and, often, its own set of federal or state laws.
Why these matter
Many of these categories eventually surface on a credit report or consumer background check. When they do, the same FCRA principles from the Credit ID Theft section apply - but first you need to address the underlying fraud with the IRS, Medicare, state agencies, or law enforcement.
Section guide
The pages in this section
Tax identity theft
Someone files a federal or state return in your name to steal your refund - or uses your SSN to work and dumps the tax liability on you.
Medical identity theft
Someone uses your insurance or identity to get medical care, prescriptions, or durable medical equipment. The medical records can follow you for life.
Criminal identity theft
Someone gives your name to police during an arrest or citation. The warrant or conviction then shows up on your background check.
Child identity theft
Children's SSNs are gold - no credit file to trigger alerts, and years before anyone checks. By the time the child turns 18, the damage is done.
Synthetic identity theft
Fraudsters combine a real SSN (often a child's or deceased person's) with a fake name and address to build an entirely new credit identity.
Employment / SSN misuse
Someone uses your SSN to get a job. The IRS gets W-2s for income you never earned - and sends you the tax bill.
Government benefits fraud
Unemployment, Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid - benefits claimed in your name, often discovered only when you apply for the real thing.
Account takeover
Not new-account fraud - the thief gets into your existing bank, brokerage, or retirement account and drains it.