Identity theft is in the news for all the wrong reasons; it seems like the newspapers, television and other media are all going overboard with reporting fresh instances of identity theft. This is enough to make an ordinary person sit up and wonder when they will become the next victim and if so, what laws against identity theft are out there that will protect them. Identity theft is a crime in which your personal information such as your Social Security Number, bank account number and credit card information is stolen and used by a thief for fraudulent purposes.