identity theft

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition

Noun: - The crime of using someone else's personal information without their permission, typically to commit fraud or financial gain: "Identity theft" refers to the illegal acquisition and use of another individual's private data, such as name, identification numbers, or financial details, to deceive or obtain benefits fraudulently.

Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • She was a victim of identity theft after her credit card details were stolen online.
    • Protecting your social security number is crucial to prevent identity theft.
    • The bank has systems in place to detect and combat identity theft.
Advanced Usage
  • "to fall victim to identity theft": to become a target or suffer from the crime of identity theft.
    • Many people fall victim to identity theft through phishing emails.
  • "identity theft protection": services or measures designed to safeguard personal information from being stolen.
    • He subscribed to an identity theft protection service for peace of mind.
Variants and Related Words
  • Identity thief (n): a person who commits the crime of identity theft.
    • The identity thief was arrested after attempting to open multiple bank accounts.
  • Identity fraud (n): often used interchangeably with "identity theft," specifically emphasizing the deceptive use of the stolen identity.
    • The case involved identity fraud, where the criminal took out loans in someone else's name.
Synonyms
  • Personal data theft: the unauthorized taking of private individual information.
  • Impersonation fraud: fraudulent activity involving pretending to be someone else.
Related Phrases
  • Steal someone's identity: to commit the act of identity theft.
    • Criminals can steal someone's identity using information from discarded documents.
  • Victim of identity theft: a person whose identity has been stolen and misused.
    • As a victim of identity theft, she spent months repairing her credit score.
Related Idioms
Noun
  1. the co-option of another person's personal information (e.g., name, Social Security number, credit card number, passport) without that person's knowledge and the fraudulent use of such knowledge