identity theft

Home > ... > Social Sciences and the Law > Law > Crime and Law Enforcement > ...

Essential
reading

Compare
side-by-side

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary ...

A Dictionary of the Internet

The Columbia Encyclopedia, ...

identity theft

identity theft the use of one person's personal information by another to commit fraud or other crimes. The most common forms of identity theft occur when someone obtains another person's social security number, driver's license number, date of birth, and the like and uses it to open a fraudulent bank, credit card, cellular telephone, or other account, or to obtain false loans. Criminal identity theft, the most common nonfinancial type, occurs when someone gives another's personal information to a law enforcement officer when he or she is arrested. In addition to the financial losses resulting from identity theft, the person whose personal information has been used will have an erroneous credit or criminal history that is often expensive and time-consuming to correct. The occurrence of identity theft increased significantly beginning in the late 1990s due to the computerization of records and the ability to use another's personal information anonymously over the Internet.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-identthft" title="Facts and informations about identity theft">identity theft</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"identity theft." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Jul. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"identity theft." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (July 10, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-identthft.html

"identity theft." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-identthft.html

Learn more about citation styles

identity theft

A Dictionary of the Internet | 2001 | | Â© A Dictionary of the Internet 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

identity theft A crime which many computer industry observers are predicting will be a major problem in the early twenty first century. It involves the theft of personal identification information such as DIGITAL CERTIFICATES, PASSWORDS, and PINS in order to use them for some criminal purpose. There is an extensive amount of research being carried out on BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS which aim to provide virtually foolproof identification schemes.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O12-identitytheft" title="Facts and informations about identity theft">identity theft</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

DARREL INCE. "identity theft." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Jul. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DARREL INCE. "identity theft." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (July 10, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-identitytheft.html

DARREL INCE. "identity theft." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved July 10, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-identitytheft.html

Learn more about citation styles

identity theft

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

i·den·ti·ty theft • n. the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information, usually for financial gain.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O999-identitytheft" title="Facts and informations about identity theft">identity theft</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"identity theft." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Jul. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"identity theft." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (July 10, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-identitytheft.html

"identity theft." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-identitytheft.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	ID crime: hang on to your ego.(identity theft) Magazine article from: Financial Management (UK); 4/1/2006
	Identity theft brings new security duties for owners: with careful attention to consumer rights and data legislation, apartment owners will be better equipped to protect resident information, detect fraud and limit identity theft. Magazine article from: Units; 6/1/2005
	Armorpoint launches on-demand identity-theft solution.(TechNewz)(Armorpoint On-Demand Identity Theft Management Platform)(Armorpoint Blanket Protection Service)(Armorpoint Identity Theft Security Suite) Magazine article from: Mortgage Banking; 1/1/2007

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	ID crime: hang on to your ego.(identity theft) Magazine article from: Financial Management (UK); 4/1/2006; 538 words ; Identity fraud and identity theft are terms often applied to any...Information Fraud Avoidance System, identity theft is the misappropriation of the...set up a steering committee (www.identity-theft.org.uk/ committee.html) to co... Read more
	Identity theft brings new security duties for owners: with careful attention to consumer rights and data legislation, apartment owners will be better equipped to protect resident information, detect fraud and limit identity theft. Magazine article from: Units; 6/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...greater attention to the problem of identity theft, one of the country's fastest...Despite government attempts to curb identity theft, revelations early in the year...forward. Increased awareness of identity theft's cost and significance in today... Read more
	Armorpoint launches on-demand identity-theft solution.(TechNewz)(Armorpoint On-Demand Identity Theft Management Platform)(Armorpoint Blanket Protection Service)(Armorpoint Identity Theft Security Suite) Magazine article from: Mortgage Banking; 1/1/2007; 458 words ; ...line--which includes an On-Demand Identity Theft Management Platform, Blanket Protection Service and Identity Theft Security Suite[TM]--enables financial...to offer customers value-added identity-theft protection for increased security... Read more
	Authentication technology: identity theft and account takeover. Magazine article from: The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin; 6/1/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...calls and complaints pertaining to identity theft across the country. Recently...adopted a resolution to help curb identity theft. The IACP requested, for example...in reporting all incidents of identity theft. Additionally, the IACP requested... Read more
	Identity theft on the campaign trail.(FEATURE) Magazine article from: Campaigns & Elections; 9/1/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...fielded calls in his office at the Identity Theft Resource Center from two campaign...because he'd been a victim himself. Identity theft covers a range of financial crimes...credit card. Foley hasn't heard of identity theft striking a campaign. But, given... Read more
	Managing the risk of identity theft: thieves are no longer just content with your car or your laptop. They want to steal you, and the identities and private information of your employees and customers.(RISK MANAGEMENT) Magazine article from: Risk & Insurance; 12/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; Identity theft is one of the fastest growing white...Businesses can also be the victims of identity. theft, and like individuals, businesses can take steps ahead of time to prevent identity theft, including taking risk management steps... Read more
	Protecting yourself against identity theft.(Legal Forum) Magazine article from: Soldiers Magazine; 2/1/2008; ; 700+ words ; IDENTITY theft is the intentional misuse of another...personally profit at your expense. While identity theft is often referred to as a victimless...8.9 million people were affected by identity theft in 2006. Its total cost to the United... Read more
	The impact of identity theft through cyberspace. (CE Credit). Magazine article from: The Forensic Examiner; 5/1/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...of a victim of identity theft who was further...victim of identify theft. Not only was he...report an elaborate identity fraud scam, about...incurred by victims of identity fraud, detailing...perpetrator of the identity theft as Connie Fraser...alter ego is an identity ... Read more
	Civil liability for identity theft: identity theft can cause catastrophic financial damage, but many victims also suffer emotional, psychological, and even physical injuries. Civil claims against the responsible parties can help repair the damage. Magazine article from: Trial; 2/1/2007; ; 700+ words ; The crime of identity theft is widespread. While the incidence of some form of identity theft declined to 8.9 million Americans...The average out-of-pocket loss from identity theft is about $6,000, (3) though many victims... Read more
	Coping with identity theft: imagine discovering that someone has opened credit card accounts or secured a home equity or car loan under an assumed name: yours. Consider receiving an IRS W-2 form reporting wages earned by someone else who has used your name and Social Security number.(Cover Story) Magazine article from: Partners in Community and Economic Development; 6/22/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...these happen to consumers--now identity theft victims--all over the country...Trade Commission (FTC) found that identity theft affected almost 10 million consumers...recurring The initial impact of identity theft can be devastating, in part because... Read more