Identity theft can steal everything from an individual – from money and valuables, to a driving record or medical information, to even one’s personality and reputation – leaving the victim cleaning up the mess for years. In today’s digital age, people are what their personal information says they are – personal information that is usually discovered during a background check. Here are FIVE common types of identity theft that can strike any unsuspecting individual, and how a "Self" background check can help stop them.

• Criminal Identity Theft: This type of identity theft allows identity thieves to commit crimes posing as other people. Consequently, the innocent victims could end up being arrested for a murder or bank robbery that they know nothing about and end up having to then prove their innocence for a crime they did not commit.
• Driver's License Identity Theft: A stolen driver's license provides a name, address, and date of birth, as well as a State driver's identity number, information identity thieves use to apply for loans, order credit cards, open checking accounts, and buy expensive items. Most drivers' licenses also contain current street addresses.
• Financial Identity Theft: This type of identity theft involves a criminal posing as another person to empty that person's bank account(s) and other financial holdings, max out credit cards, as well as buy and sell expensive properties such as homes, cars, land, or businesses.
• Medical Identity Theft: This type of identity theft can be deadly as well as expensive, since identity thieves can not only use medical information to file false workers' compensation claims, have surgeries, and file for phony disability claims, but also leave the victim's medical record full of false medical information that could cause harm during emergency procedures.
• Social Security Identity Theft: The ultimate goal of all identity thieves is the Social Security card, since this information can lead to all the crimes listed already, along with claiming Social Security benefits that the victims have worked for, welfare benefits, and false passports.

To help prevent all forms of identity theft – and avoid the fraudulent charges and destroyed reputations that can remain unpaid and unresolved for years – consumers need to protect themselves with a “Self" Background Check, which is the same type of background check performed by employers but in this case individuals order the background checks on themselves.

These personal background checks can help stop identity theft by keeping track of personal information contained in criminal files, driving records, and financial accounts, and are also a good way for individuals to correct any errors or inaccuracies that would appear on a background check for an employer, landlord, or school.

While many background check firms only service employers, MyBackgroundCheck.com offers self background checks for individuals and performed background checks for over one million people last year. Self background checks are also a good way to keep personal information current, secure, and accurate.

For more information about how self background checks can help prevent identity theft, please visit www.mybackgroundcheck.com, email info@mybackgroundcheck.com, or call 1-800-503-2364.

Contact Us @ MyBackgroundCheck.com

tahearn@mybackgroundcheck.com

Follow MyBackgroundCheck.com on Twitter

*We welcome relevant comments and questions from consumers, experts, and human resources professionals. Please do not submit comments with advertisements as they will not be posted publicly. Thanks for visiting our blog!