identity theft
Stealing someone's data
Identity theft is the fraudulent use of someone else's personal information—name, Social Security number, credit card details—typically for financial gain.
The thief may open accounts, make purchases, or file taxes in the victim's name.
It took her years to recover from the identity theft.
The crime has proliferated with digital record-keeping.
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- social engineeringManipulating people for information
- skimmingPassing lightly over
- dumpster divingSalvaging from discarded refuse
- shoulder surfingCovertly observing another's input
pretexting · account takeover · data breach · hacking · malware · keylogger · spyware · spoofing
Illegal use of another's account
- bank accountFinancial storage for funds
- credit scoreNumerical measure of borrower reliability
- credit reportRecord of borrowing behavior
- collection agencyFirm recovering overdue payments
debt · chargeback · credit bureau · Equifax · Experian · TransUnion · account closure · financial loss
Restriction on credit inquiries
- fraud alertIdentity theft notification
- credit monitoringTracking lending reputation changes
- two-factor authenticationIdentity confirmation requiring two proofs
- shreddingCutting into thin pieces
encryption · security questions · biometrics · VPN · antivirus · firewall · privacy settings · background check
Intentional criminal trickery
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- convictionFirmly held belief
larceny · criminal charges · perpetrator · victim · arrest · indictment · sentencing · restitution
Day someone was born
- driver's licenseOfficial driving permit
- passportGovernment-issued travel credential
- medical recordsDocumented patient health history
- tax returnIncome declaration to government
W-2 · address · phone number · bank statements · utility bills · personal information · PII · full name
Official crime documentation
- affidavitSworn written statement
- case numberUnique file identifier
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- credit disputeContesting reported financial history
account recovery · legal assistance · victim advocate · notarized statement · certified mail · paper trail · timeline · evidence gathering
phishing
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- social engineeringManipulating people for information
- skimmingPassing lightly over
- dumpster divingSalvaging from discarded refuse
shoulder surfing · pretexting · account takeover · data breach · hacking · malware · keylogger · spyware · spoofing · pharming
credit card fraud
Illegal use of another's account
- bank accountFinancial storage for funds
- credit scoreNumerical measure of borrower reliability
- credit reportRecord of borrowing behavior
collection agency · debt · chargeback · credit bureau · Equifax · Experian · TransUnion · account closure · financial loss · mortgage fraud
credit freeze
Restriction on credit inquiries
- fraud alertIdentity theft notification
- credit monitoringTracking lending reputation changes
- two-factor authenticationIdentity confirmation requiring two proofs
shredding · encryption · security questions · biometrics · VPN · antivirus · firewall · privacy settings · background check · opt-out
fraud
Intentional criminal trickery
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
conviction · larceny · criminal charges · perpetrator · victim · arrest · indictment · sentencing · restitution · federal offense
date of birth
Day someone was born
- driver's licenseOfficial driving permit
- passportGovernment-issued travel credential
- medical recordsDocumented patient health history
tax return · W-2 · address · phone number · bank statements · utility bills · personal information · PII · full name · PIN
police report
Official crime documentation
- affidavitSworn written statement
- case numberUnique file identifier
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
credit dispute · account recovery · legal assistance · victim advocate · notarized statement · certified mail · paper trail · timeline · evidence gathering
- cybercrimeshacking, phishing, malware, ransomware, data breach
- financial crimesbank fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud
- tech fearstechnophobia, cyberphobia, nomophobia, AI takeover, robot uprising
- bankingbank, banks, ATM, ATMs, account
- security termsPIN, password, passwords, encryption, encrypted
- cyber threatsmalware, phishing, hacking, virus, ransomware
identity theftarmed robbery
Theft with weapon threat
mugging · burglary · physical assault · home invasion · carjacking
identity theftidentity protection
Measures preventing personal fraud
identity verification · data protection · self-identification · fraud prevention · privacy protection
identity theftidentity protection
Measures preventing personal fraud
data security · privacy protection · cybersecurity · fraud prevention · data integrity
identity, identify, theft, thieves, identified, unidentified, identifying, identities, thieve