Identity theft is on the rise in the United States. Until recently, this was primarily a Hollywood invention but life is increasingly imitating art and calls to a US federal ID theft hotline have doubled.

Stealing a person's identity usually results in financial loss as criminals use the information to obtain everything from loans to credit cards and utility accounts.

Unless the breach of personal information is identified quickly, thieves may have a long lasting impact on victim's lives through denial of employment, mortgages or leases by companies using credit check systems.

In 54 per cent of complaints, thieves opened a credit card account in the person's name or hijacked their existing credit card accounts. More than 25 per cent of victims said they knew the suspected identity thief.