Identity theft is incredibly common these days, partly because it is so easy to commit. It occurs when someone else uses your personal information, such as name, social security number, credit card number, or banking information, to commit fraud without your permission. Identity theft can encompass everything from using your credit card number to make purchases, to obtaining legal documents with your name on them and pretending to be you. For more information on these and other identity theft topics, read through the Avvo guides in this section.