It can be difficult to stop them from getting away with it, which is why you should always be vigilant and take steps to protect yourself.

What Is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information and uses it for their benefit.

The most common ways people steal identities are through phishing scams, data breaches, and skimming.

• Phishing scams are when someone sends you an email that looks like it's from a reputable company, but isn't. These emails usually ask you to give them personal information to take advantage of some sort of offer or deal.

• Data breaches are when companies accidentally expose their customers' personal information to hackers and criminals. This happens all the time with large companies that have huge amounts of customer data on their servers.

• Skimming is when someone steals your credit card by using a special device that reads its magnetic strip, then records all the details off of it and uses those details for themselves.

What Are the Most Common Signs of IdentityTheft?

Identity theft is a scary thing, but it's not something that you have to deal with alone. Here are the most common signs of identity theft:

• A bill is missing from your mailbox

• You've received a strange phone call that you didn't place

• Your credit card or bank account has been used for purchases you didn't make

• Your credit report shows accounts or other activity that you didn't authorize

How Can You Protect Yourself?

Identity theft is a serious problem that can impact you, your family, and your finances.

It's important to take steps to protect yourself from identity theft, but it's also important to know that you can never fully eliminate the risk. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself:

• Avail of identity theft protection services. You can ask family or friends if they are aware of it or surf the net about the top-rated choices for identity theft protection and make sure to find the best one and consider getting their service for your prevention.

• Keep track of all personal information. This includes names and addresses of friends, family members, and business associates as well as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and bank account numbers.

• Review your credit report at least once a year by contacting each of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Make sure the information on the report is correct; if not, ask that it be corrected immediately.

• If your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, report it immediately so thieves cannot use your name or other identifying information to open new accounts in your name without your knowledge.

• Never give out personal information over the phone unless you have initiated the call yourself; if a company calls about a bill or credit card payment ask for an address where you can write them instead of giving out any personal details over the phone

What to Do if You Think You're a Victim of Identity Theft?

If you think you're a victim of identity theft, here's what to do:

Freeze Your Credit Reports

The first thing you should do is freeze your credit reports. This prevents any creditors from accessing your information until you unfreeze them. You can do this by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax at 800-349-9960; TransUnion at 888-909-8872; and Experian at 888-397-3742.

Notify Creditors and Other Companies

Next, contact all creditors and other companies that have information about you. Ask them to close any accounts or cancel any cards that may be compromised. Tell them to place fraud alerts on your file with the credit bureaus so no new accounts are opened in your name without your approval.

File a Police Report

You'll want to file a police report as well—this will help law enforcement investigate any crimes committed against you and may help clear up confusion if someone else tries to use your identity down the line (for example, if they've already used it once).

Final Thoughts

It is never too early to start thinking about identity theft. The younger we start thinking about how we protect our privacy, the more adept we will become at protecting ourselves from the bad actors out there. 

Young people need to be aware of the damage identity theft can do to their education and their credit, and what action steps they should take to mitigate these threats. We all live in a world with increasingly complex personal identity information – and that means there are going to be ways for someone to steal your identity if you don't take steps to protect yourself.