Personal Info Theft Apr 2026

Personal information theft, often referred to as identity theft, occurs when someone wrongfully obtains and uses your sensitive data—such as your name, Social Security number, or bank account details—without your permission, typically for fraudulent economic gain. In 2024, the FTC recorded over of identity theft, costing consumers more than $12 billion . How Your Information Is Stolen

Thieves use a mix of high-tech and low-tech methods to gather your data: Identity theft | USAGov personal info theft