Identity Thieves

For the thieves, once they have your information, they can start spending your money.

Here are some of the ways:

Changing Your Address.
They can reroute your billing statements to another address by filling out a "change of address form".
Stealing.
They steal purses and billfolds, your mail, credit card and bank statements, pre-approved credit offers; and tax information.
Bribery
They bribe employees who have access to your personnel records.
Pretexting. They use false pretenses, pretending to be you, to obtain your personal information from telephone companies, financial institutions, and other places.
Skimming. They use a special storage device to steal debit/credit card numbers when you process your card.
Phishing. On the internet, they pretend to be a company or financial institution and send you spam (bulk email) or give you a pop-up message to get you to reveal your personal information.
Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash bins or dumpsters and look for bills or papers that have your personal information on them

Credit Card Fraud:

The thieves may open a new credit card account using your name. When they use the fasely obtained card and don't pay the bills then the delinquent account will appear on your credit report.
They might change the credit card billing address so you no longer receive any bills. Then they accumulate charges on the account. Because your bills are then sent to a new address, you might not find out about any problems for weeks.

Phone Fraud / Utilities Fraud:

They might open a new phone or wireless account in your name.
They may run up the charges on your existing account.
They could use your name to get utility services like cable TV, heating or electricity.

Finance Fraud / Bank Fraud:

They may open a bank account using your name and then write bad checks.
Using your name or account number, they could create counterfeit checks.
They might try to take out a loan in your name.
They could make a clone of your Debit card or ATM card and then make electronic withdrawals using your name and deplete your account.

Government Documents Fraud:

They could try to get an official ID card or driver's license issued in your name but with their picture on the card.
If they get your Social Security number and name using that information they could try and get government benefits
Using your information, they could file a fraudulent tax return.

Other Fraud:

They could get a job and use your Social Security number.
They might get medical services using your name.
They might rent a house using your name.
If the thieves get arrested for some reason other than the identity theft, they could give your personal information to police. Then, if they don't show up for the court date, a warrant for arrest would be issued in your name.