Identity theft
Using another person's personal information — name, date of birth, address, ID numbers — without their consent, typically to open accounts, take out loans, or commit fraud.
Also known as: ID theft, identity fraud
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Identity theft encompasses a wide range of fraud where a criminal uses someone else's identifying information. At the mild end, this might mean using stolen card details for online purchases. At the severe end, it can involve opening bank accounts, taking out mortgages, or filing fraudulent tax returns in another person's name, causing lasting credit-score and financial damage that can take years to unwind.
Personal information for identity theft is obtained through data breaches, phishing, social engineering, mail theft, or purchasing data on criminal forums. Synthetic identity fraud — blending real and invented data to create a new fake identity — is a growing variant that is harder to detect because no single real person is obviously victimised.
Signs of identity theft include unexpected credit applications on your credit file, accounts you didn't open, and debt-collector contact for debts you don't recognise.