Identity Theft Glossary
The crimes, protection and recovery methods, and prevention strategies of identity theft often come with some hard to decipher terms. Don't get lost in the jargon. Use these glossary items to demystify the terminology surrounding identity theft.
Gray Market Goods
Gray market goods are items that are purchased by identity thieves, usually using fraudulent credit accounts, and then resold for a profit.
Gray market goods are items that are purchased by identity thieves, usually using fraudulent credit accounts, and then resold for a profit.
Nigerian Letter Scams
The Nigerian Letter Scam is one that's been around for a while. The advent of the Internet has changed the way the Nigerian Letter Scam is delivered, but it's still the same scam.
The Nigerian Letter Scam is one that's been around for a while. The advent of the Internet has changed the way the Nigerian Letter Scam is delivered, but it's still the same scam.
Synthetic Identity Fraud
Synthetic identity fraud occurs when an identity thief alters your personal information for the purpose of using it to gain access to information or money based on your credit history.
Synthetic identity fraud occurs when an identity thief alters your personal information for the purpose of using it to gain access to information or money based on your credit history.
Identity Theft Red Flags and Address Discrepancies Under the FACTA Act
The Identity Theft Red Flags and Address Discrepancies Under the Fair and Accurate Transactions Act of 2003 is designed to hold businesses more accountable in their management of consumer information through guidelines and legislation that address technology and procedural issues affecting how that information is handled.
The Identity Theft Red Flags and Address Discrepancies Under the Fair and Accurate Transactions Act of 2003 is designed to hold businesses more accountable in their management of consumer information through guidelines and legislation that address technology and procedural issues affecting how that information is handled.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) of 1970 is a piece of legislation that governs the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) of 1970 is a piece of legislation that governs the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information.
Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act
The Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act can help consumers recoup the costs associated with having their identity stolen. Currently, this act is still pending approval of the President.
The Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act can help consumers recoup the costs associated with having their identity stolen. Currently, this act is still pending approval of the President.
Credit Reporting Agencies
Credit reporting agencies, also called credit bureaus, collect credit and personal information about consumers.
Credit reporting agencies, also called credit bureaus, collect credit and personal information about consumers.
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act was passed in 2004 to help consumers protect their credit histories from inaccurate credit transaction reporting.
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act was passed in 2004 to help consumers protect their credit histories from inaccurate credit transaction reporting.
Credit Monitoring Services
The meteoric rise in identity theft has prompted an explosion in the number of credit monitoring services advertised, but what exactly is a credit monitoring service?
The meteoric rise in identity theft has prompted an explosion in the number of credit monitoring services advertised, but what exactly is a credit monitoring service?
Credit Fraud Alert
A fraud alert is used to alert potential lenders that your identity may have been compromised by identity theft.
A fraud alert is used to alert potential lenders that your identity may have been compromised by identity theft.
Credit Report Freeze
A credit freeze, or credit report freeze, locks down a consumer's credit report so no new credit accounts can be activated without the proper authorization from the consumer.
A credit freeze, or credit report freeze, locks down a consumer's credit report so no new credit accounts can be activated without the proper authorization from the consumer.
Web Page Spoofing
Web page spoofing is just one type of deception that hackers use to trick people into providing personal information that can be used for the purposes of identity theft.
Web page spoofing is just one type of deception that hackers use to trick people into providing personal information that can be used for the purposes of identity theft.
Email Spoofing
Email spoofing is a technique that hackers use to send fraudulent emails and is often used as a tool to collect information need for identity theft activities.
Email spoofing is a technique that hackers use to send fraudulent emails and is often used as a tool to collect information need for identity theft activities.
Spoofing
Spoofing is a broad-ranging term that essentially means to pretend to be something or someone that you're not. It is, however, much more complicated.
Spoofing is a broad-ranging term that essentially means to pretend to be something or someone that you're not. It is, however, much more complicated.
Vishing
Vishing uses social engineering and phishing techniques to steal people's identities using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone lines.
Vishing uses social engineering and phishing techniques to steal people's identities using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone lines.
Social Engineering
The practice of deceiving someone, either in person, over the phone, or using a computer, with the express intent of breaching some level of security either personal or professional.
The practice of deceiving someone, either in person, over the phone, or using a computer, with the express intent of breaching some level of security either personal or professional.
Business Identity Theft
Business identities are just as endangered as personal identities. Thieves steal business identities to use both for direct financial gain and also as tools to steal individual identities.
Business identities are just as endangered as personal identities. Thieves steal business identities to use both for direct financial gain and also as tools to steal individual identities.
Parent/Child Identity Theft
Parent/child identity theft is committed by a parent against a child. It's a common occurrence in which parents use their children's identity to secure credit cards, utility accounts, and other even leases or loans because their own credit is insufficient to open such accounts.
Parent/child identity theft is committed by a parent against a child. It's a common occurrence in which parents use their children's identity to secure credit cards, utility accounts, and other even leases or loans because their own credit is insufficient to open such accounts.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is a crime in which a person's confidential, personal information is stolen for the purpose of criminal use.
Identity theft is a crime in which a person's confidential, personal information is stolen for the purpose of criminal use.