 TITLE: Is Identity Theft Protection Worth It? CONTENT: Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information and uses it for fraudulent purposes. Fraudsters can do this in various ways, from physically going through documents in the trash to hacking into devices. Or, if your personal information is compromised in a large data breach, it may be sold on the dark web.\nFraudsters can also use your information in different ways. Some may try to open credit cards or loans in your name, running up a balance or taking the money and moving on. Or, in the case of medical identity theft, purchasing procedures or medications in your name.\nVictims of identity theft may experience:\n*   **Credit damage**: Unpaid debts in your name could lead to negative marks being added to your credit history. Fortunately, these can be disputed and fixed if they're the result of fraud.\n*   **Tax bills**: Fraudsters may be able to file tax returns in your name and claim tax refunds, or use your personal information to get a job and not pay taxes, leaving an unpaid tax associated with your identity.\n*   **Mistaken medical records**: Having someone else's medical information mixed with yours can be difficult to fix and potentially dangerous.\n*   **Criminal records**: Additionally, you may have to clear your criminal record if someone used your identity to commit a crime.\nWhile it's possible to recover from identity theft, the process can take a lot of time and money. It can also have repercussions on your quality of life. A 2018 Identity Theft Resource Center survey found that victims of identity theft had trouble sleeping (84.1%); concentrating (63.6%); and most (56.8%) experienced ongoing aches, pains, cramps and stomach issues. END