 TITLE: What to Know About the Effects of Identity Theft CONTENT: Depending on the type of theft that occurs, you could be affected in several ways. The least tangible but potentially the most damaging is the emotional toll. When someone commits identity theft, they literally assume your identity.\nThey can then do any number of things in your name, including opening new credit accounts, filing a fraudulent tax return, committing other forms of fraud and more.\nBeing victimized in this way can leave you feeling violated, anxious and unsafe. In some cases, it can be difficult to prove that the identity theft occurred, giving way to anger and frustration. The stress can even take a toll on you physically.\nFor example, a study by the Identity Theft Resource Center found that 41% of identity theft victims experience sleep disturbances, and 29% develop other physical symptoms, including aches and pains, heart palpitations, sweating and stomach issues.\nOther potential effects include:\n*   **Damaged credit**: If an identity thief steals your Social Security number (SSN), opens new accounts in your name and never pays, it could ruin your credit history. Not only can this impact your ability to get credit, but it can also hurt your job prospects and increase your auto and homeowners insurance premiums.\n*   **Tax debt**: If someone assumes your identity through your SSN on job applications and doesn't pay their taxes, you could end up with a hefty bill. It's also possible for a fraudster to file a return in your name, submitting erroneous information to get a refund and leaving you to deal with the aftermath.\n*   **A criminal record**: If someone uses your identity to commit other crimes and gives your information to police when they get arrested, you could be the one to end up with the rap sheet.\n*   **Lost time and money**: It can take years to recover from identity theft, and you may lose money in the form of expenses incurred by the identity thief, time off work and more. END