Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name,  Social Security number, or banking details, without your permission, usually to commit financial fraud. This can lead to fraudulent credit accounts being opened, unauthorized charges, and accumulating debts that you never incurred. The impact on your credit score can be devastating, as unpaid accounts and fraudulent activities are recorded as your responsibility until they are disputed and removed.

Repairing credit after identity theft requires quickly identifying and reporting any suspicious activity. This involves contacting credit bureaus, placing fraud alerts on your profile, and working with the appropriate authorities. Furthermore, a systematic credit repair process includes reviewing and disputing each fraudulent item reported to ensure that only accurate and legitimate information remains on your credit report, thereby restoring your credit score to its pre-fraud level.