15 must-see movies about identity theft: The risk of having your identity stolen

Note: This list ranks movies about identity theft based on their IMDb scores, from lowest to highest.

15. Identity Theft (2004)

If you want to watch a movie about identity theft, you can’t go wrong with Identity Theft. Check out the plot: When Michelle Brown, played by Kimberly Williams-Paisley, fills out a rental form, she has no idea it will lead to a disaster. Soon, she starts receiving massive bills for items she never bought. She realizes that her identity has been stolen. The situation spirals when a warrant meant for the thief mistakenly targets her.

14. Identity Thief (2013)

Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman put a fun twist on an otherwise serious subject. In Identity Thief, Sandy Patterson, played by Jason Bateman, gets a phone call asking him to verify his details. This phone call quickly becomes a disaster when he learns that a woman named Diana (portrayed by Melissa McCarthy) has stolen his identity. Suddenly, his credit cards are maxed out, and random appointments are made in his name. The businessman heads to Florida to find and confront the identity thief. This journey exposes the harsh realities of identity theft and leads to unexpected comedic chaos as Sandy Patterson tries to reclaim his life.

13. Cam (2018)

In the tense thriller Cam, Madeline Brewer plays Alice Ackerman, a camgirl determined to top her live broadcast site’s rankings. Her rise halts when she can’t log in to her account and discovers someone impersonating her online. Alice devises a daring plan to unmask the identity thief and reclaim her identity. This movie explores the dark side of digital life, showing how easily someone can hijack your life with just a few clicks.

12. The Net (1995)

In the psychological thriller The Net, Sandra Bullock plays Angela Bennett, a skilled computer analyst whose life revolves around technology. Her routine is disrupted when a friend sends her a disk with a program to debug and then suddenly dies in a plane crash. As Angela uncovers sensitive secrets on the disk, her life spirals into chaos. Her identity is erased and replaced with that of a criminal. She struggles to prove her existence and uncover the identity thief behind this manipulation.

11. Hacker (2016)

The film Hacker follows Alex Danyliuk, a young tech prodigy who turns to cybercrime after his family faces financial trouble. He joins an underground hacking group and masters how to conduct identity theft and other cybercrimes. As Alex dives deeper into the dark web, the film shows how easily personal information can be exploited and the devastating consequences of identity theft on people and society.

10. Taking Lives (2004)

The film Taking Lives follows FBI profiler Illeana Scott, played by Angelina Jolie, as she tracks a serial killer who assumes his victims’ identities. This method allows the killer to live undetected, seamlessly taking on a new life after each murder. The movie shows how easily a person can steal someone else’s identity.

9. Woman on the Run (2017)

In the movie Woman on the Run, a mystery author narrowly escapes an attempt on her life and discovers her nanny has stolen her identity and taken her children. Desperate, she goes to extreme lengths to confront the identity thief and reclaim her life and kids. The movie highlights the harrowing outcomes of identity theft and the author’s intense struggle to protect her family.

8. True Story (2015)

The film True Story follows journalist Michael Finkel, played by Jonah Hill, who discovers that accused murderer Christian Longo, played by James Franco, has been using his identity. As Finkel investigates Longo’s motives, the film highlights the disturbing aspects of stealing someone’s identity. This movie leaves you with plenty of food for thought.

7. Unknown (2011)

In the action-thriller Unknown, biochemist Martin Harris, played by Liam Neeson, arrives in Berlin for a major conference. After leaving his briefcase at the airport, he takes a cab to retrieve it but ends up in a car crash, leaving him in a coma. When he wakes up four days later without ID and parts of his memory missing, he returns to his hotel to find a stranger claiming to be him and his wife denying she knows him. He embarks on a quest to reclaim his life and identity. This thriller shows how quickly and completely a person’s life can be stolen.

6. Cyberbully (2015)

The film Cyberbully follows Casey Jacobs, a teenage girl played by Maisie Williams, who becomes a victim of cyberbullying. An anonymous hacker gains control of her computer and uses her personal information to torment her. The identity thief threatens to expose her secrets and poses as her online, causing Casey severe emotional distress. The movie shows how easily someone’s online life can be hijacked and used against them.

5. Just Another Love Story (2007)

The film Just Another Love Story follows Jonas, an ordinary man whose life changes after a car accident involving a woman named Julia. When Julia wakes up from a coma with amnesia, Jonas is mistakenly identified as her boyfriend, Sebastian. Caught in the deception, Jonas assumes Sebastian’s identity, enjoying the excitement and romance. However, as the truth unravels, the identity thief faces the dark consequences of his actions.

4. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

In the stylish 1950s-set film The Talented Mr. Ripley, Tom Ripley, played by Matt Damon, is a Manhattan lavatory attendant who takes a chance to infiltrate high society. Wearing a borrowed Princeton jacket, he plays piano at a garden party and is mistaken for a Princeton graduate. Hired to bring a wealthy man’s son, Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), home from Italy, Tom befriends Dickie and his fiancée Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). When Dickie gets tired of him, Tom uses his forgery and impersonation skills to take over Dickie’s identity. The Talented Mr. Ripley explores envy and the dangerous lengths a person might go to steal another’s life.

3. Disconnect (2012)

In the movie Disconnect, identity theft disrupts the lives of Derek and Cindy Hull, played by Alexander Skarsgård and Paula Patton. They find their bank accounts drained and their personal information stolen, which causes them emotional and financial stress. This subplot shows the violation and strain identity theft places on their relationship.

2. The Bourne Identity (2002)

The film The Bourne Identity follows Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon, who has no memory of his identity but possesses exceptional combat skills and several fake passports. As he uncovers who he truly is, Bourne learns he was part of a secret CIA operation and that his original identity has been erased.

1. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

In the film Catch Me If You Can, Frank Abagnale Jr. (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) impersonates pilots, doctors, and lawyers using his clever tricks. Arguably one of the best movies about identity theft also features FBI agent Carl Hanratty (played by Tom Hanks) as he relentlessly chases the identity thief. The film reveals the effects of identity theft on both victims and criminals.

Protect yourself from identity theft

Identity theft can happen to anyone and can have serious consequences. However, you can reduce the risk by proactively safeguarding your personal information.

• Use strong passwords. Create unique and strong passwords for each of your accounts. Instead of saving them in your browser, use an encrypted password manager. This tool securely stores all your passwords in one place.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Two-factor authentication is a process that adds an extra security layer to a user’s account. With 2FA, you need more than just your password to log in. You must also provide a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, an email, or a biometric factor like a fingerprint or facial recognition. This second form of verification makes it much harder for hackers to access your information.
• Be careful about what you share online. Think twice before sharing your sensitive data, such as your Social Security number. Only share these details when necessary, and ensure you trust the person or organization you’re giving them to.
• Review bank statements. Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions. Staying vigilant can help you catch identity theft early. Read this article for more tips on how to check if someone is using your identity.
• Don’t click on suspicious links. These links can take you to phishing sites that steal your personal information or download malware onto your device. Always check the source of the message and hover over the link to see where it leads before you click.
• Use a VPN. Whenever you go online, your data is at risk. A VPN app like NordVPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it impossible for others to intercept. It also changes your IP address to improve your privacy. Plus, a VPN provides a secure connection when using public Wi-Fi networks.
• Use Threat Protection Pro. Hackers can steal your identity by infecting your device with malware and spying on your data. Protect yourself with Threat Protection Pro™. It blocks malicious URLs, intrusive ads, harmful links, and trackers and scans files for malware during downloads.
• Act immediately. If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, act quickly to minimize the damage. Check out the steps you should take if your identity is stolen.