The ability to prove who you are is an extremely important part of modern life.  You often have to identify yourself to receive services and conduct normal everyday transactions.  In particular, most government and business organisations have procedures to establish the identity of new clients when entering into transactions for the first time.

Unlike other crimes, victims of identity theft may not know they are victims until weeks or months after the theft has occurred.  Often the first indication that your identity has been stolen is when you:

• Have an application for credit refused.
• You are notified you have defaulted on a loan you did not apply for.
• You are arrested for a crime you did not commit.