Identity theft is a form of stealing someone’s identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person’s identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person’s name. The victim of identity theft (here meaning the person whose identity has been assumed by the identity thief) can suffer adverse consequences if they are held accountable for the perpetrator’s actions.

So, you can get your TransUnion Credit Score for free? You can get absolutely free credit monitoring? These are services that people pay good money for and Credit Karma, a company that isn’t affiliated with any of the credit bureaus, is giving it away for free. Does this sound too good to be true or is Credit Karma a scam?

If you don’t have an established credit history, or if you do have an established credit history but it has some dings, you may need a co-signer to get approved for a loan or credit card. By co-signing a credit application, the co-signer is agreeing to assume responsibility for the debt should you, the primary borrower, default on your agreement to pay the debt.

Sometimes, people make bad decisions and they end up losing their house, car and credit cards that ruin their credit history.

Your credit score can have a major impact on your life. Not only do creditors typically check your score when deciding whether or not to approve your application and what interest rate to charge you if you are approved, but landlords, insurance companies, and even employers often check it as well.