Recovered Archive / Safety
Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information, Social Security number, date of birth, account numbers, or mail, without your permission to get money, credit, services, or benefits. In an abusive relationship, this is especially common. The abuser may already know your SSN, have access to your accounts, or be able to intercept your mail.
Once they have that information, they can open new credit cards, take out loans, drain checking or savings accounts, file taxes in your name, apply for government benefits, or rent utilities and services you never asked for. The financial damage can follow you long after the relationship ends.
Identity theft and financial fraud include several tactics. An abuser may open accounts or lines of credit in your name, sometimes using addresses you no longer control so the bills never reach you. They may take over existing accounts by changing passwords, adding themselves as authorized users, or rerouting statements. They can file a tax return early to steal your refund, apply for unemployment or other benefits, or use your identity when they are pulled over or questioned by police so the consequences land on you.
Some of this is hidden. Other times it is done openly, as a way to assert control.
If the fraud is extensive, if your abuser is the one committing it, or if you feel overwhelmed, a domestic violence advocate can help you navigate the financial and legal steps. Some advocates specialize in economic abuse. You do not have to handle this alone.
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