Once it is done, they can then charge purchases on your account without you knowing it. And because your billing statements are being sent to a different address, it may take some time before you become aware that someone is using your card. Criminals may also be able to open up new accounts on your name and use it without paying the bills. Also, there will be some retailers that will require you to give information such as your social security number. Unless you feel totally confident in the retailer's security, don't give them your social security number. Remember that other than government agencies, no one else should be given your sensitive numbers although some may ask for it. Identity thefts is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country and what can be really frustrating about this is that you cannot really know how fast it is growing. Not only are identity theft cases hard to solve, they are also hard to detect. There are identity crimes that are not solved until after a decade because of the lack of information. The impostor can then run charges on your account without you even knowing it because your bills are being sent to a different address. With your stolen credit information in the wrong hands, impostors may also be able to open new credit card accounts in your own name. When using these credit cards and foot the bill in your name, such delinquencies will be reported on your credit report. Identity theft cases happen on several unsolicited events: Losing wallets or belongings containing important identity codes Reputation of being famous financially Having bank and credit card accounts Simply living in the world with records of your identity Actually this crime on identity theft is possible to happen anytime and anywhere to people who are simply living peacefully. Hackers, phishers or spoofers operate deceptions by way of scam messages in the websites. The virtual use of pseudonyms makes possible increase of online thieves. They re IT enthusiasts, expert web developers, and adept to latest in software. Most of them are not successful in their own fields, felt disgusted instead, creating menace in the worldwide website traffic to gain advantage for their own end.