identity theft

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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.

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"identity theft." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 15 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"identity theft." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 15, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-identthft.html

"identity theft." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-identthft.html

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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.

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DARREL INCE. "identity theft." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 15 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DARREL INCE. "identity theft." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (November 15, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-identitytheft.html

DARREL INCE. "identity theft." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved November 15, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-identitytheft.html

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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.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

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