True identity theft – someone pretending to be you who has used your personal financial information to set up fraudulent accounts in your name – is the fastest growing type of financial fraud.  Be careful who has access to your personal information (i.e. Social Security number, bank account, and credit card numbers).  An individual could use these numbers to get credit in your name and ring up huge amounts of debt.  This could ruin your good credit before you are even aware that the “theft” has occurred.