Catfishing is the term used when a person creates a false online identity in order to defraud or steal a victim's identity.

Catfishing refers to a type of online fraud in which the cybercriminal creates a false online identity. An online fraudster may build a relationship with their victim over time in an online setting while pretending to be someone else; this can be done either by using another person’s photograph and personal information, or by simply fabricating a fake persona. Catfishing refers to a type of online fraud in which the cybercriminal creates a false online identity for the purpose of stealing or exploiting the victim’s identity. Generally speaking, catfishing takes place when an online fraudster builds a relationship with their victim over time in an online setting while pretending to be someone else. Catfishing refers to a type of online fraud in which the cybercriminal creates a false online identity.

Catfishing

Credit card cloning is copying stolen card information using an electronic device and copying it to a new card.

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Credit card cloning refers to making an unauthorized copy of a credit card. Thieves copy information at a credit card terminal using an electronic device and transfer the data from the stolen card to a new card or rewrite an existing card with the information. From the perspective of the thieves, cloning can be a very effective way to obtain credit card information, because it does not require the physical credit card to be stolen. Cloning is a type of credit card theft in which the thief makes a digital copy of the credit card information using a concealed or disguised electronic scanner. Once the information is recorded it can be transferred onto the magnetic strip of a new card or can be used to overwrite data on an already stolen credit card.

Credit Card Cloning

A credit freeze is an anti-fraud measure in which a credit bureau refrains from sharing a consumer’s credit report with any third parties.

What does it mean to put a security freeze on my credit report?

A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, is an anti-fraud measure in which a credit bureau refrains from sharing a consumer’s credit report with any third parties. A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, is an anti-fraud measure in which a credit bureau refrains from sharing a consumer’s credit report with any third parties. Prescreened credit offers do not fall under a credit freeze, so to stop receiving prescreened credit offers, you will have to make a separate request by calling 888-5OPTOUT or filing an online request. To prevent thieves from using their credit information to open new accounts or make purchases, victims often prefer to freeze their credit in order to limit the damage from the theft. Credit freezes can help prevent theft because would-be thieves often need to access their victims' credit reports in order to open new credit accounts in their name.

Credit Freeze

An Identity Fraud Reimbursement Program is insurance coverage for losses due to fraudulent use of personal financial information.

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An Identity Fraud Reimbursement Program is insurance that protects their policyholders from losses associated with identity theft. Sometimes referred to as identity theft insurance, identity fraud reimbursement programs are offered both as stand-alone products and as add-ons to broader insurance policies such as homeowners insurance or car insurance. In addition to reimbursement, identity theft protection programs often provide information and services geared toward preventing identity theft and restoring a credit score that has been compromised. The breaches included an attack on the credit reporting agency Equifax (EFX), which alone exposed more than 147 million personal financial records of consumers in the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain.
A 2019 identity fraud study conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research found that some 14.4 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2018.﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ Some homeowner's insurance policies automatically include some level of protection against identity theft that arises from the theft of the policyholder's credit cards or financial documents.

Identity Fraud Reimbursement Program

Identity theft occurs when your personal or financial information is used by someone else to commit fraud.

The Many Different Forms of Identity Theft

Identity theft is the crime of obtaining the personal or financial information of another person to use their identity to commit fraud, such as making unauthorized transactions or purchases. Typically, such services provide information helping people to safeguard their personal information; monitor public records and private records, such as credit reports, to alert their clients of certain transactions and status changes; and provide assistance to victims to help them resolve problems associated with identity theft. In financial identity theft, someone uses another person's identity or information to obtain credit, goods, services, or benefits. Synthetic identity theft is a type of fraud in which a criminal combines real (usually stolen) and fake information to create a new identity, which is used to open fraudulent accounts and make fraudulent purchases. Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information—such as your Social Security number, bank account number, and credit card information.

Identity Theft

Medical identity theft involves the use of another person's health information for gain of benefits or fraudulent reimbursement.

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H.R.3101 - Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act of 1996

Medical identity theft involves the fraudulent use of a person’s health insurance information to receive reimbursement for healthcare services provided to an individual not covered by the policy. Other times, the information is stolen by employees or external hackers to profit from selling personal identifying information (PII).
Medical identity theft is the fraudulent use of a person's health insurance information in order to receive reimbursement for healthcare services. Perpetrators of medical identity theft include hackers who use social engineering to obtain social security numbers and health insurance information from unsuspecting medical providers and patients. Medical identity theft involves the fraudulent use of a person’s health insurance information to receive reimbursement for healthcare services provided to an individual not covered by the policy. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the three credit reporting bureaus to supply consumers with a free credit report once per year.
Federal law also entitles consumers to receive free credit reports if any company has taken adverse action against them.﻿﻿ This includes denial of credit, insurance, or employment as well as reports from collection agencies or judgments.

Medical Identity Theft

A RAM scraping attack is a malware intrusion into a retailer's sales terminal, designed to steal customer credit card data.

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A RAM scraping attack is an intrusion into the random access memory (RAM) of a retail sales terminal in order to steal consumer credit card information. A RAM scraping attack is an intrusion into the random access memory (RAM) of a retail sales terminal in order to steal consumer credit card information. A RAM scraping attack targets credit card transaction information stored temporarily in the point-of-sale terminal. Your credit card issuers have by now almost certainly sent you a new card that is inserted into a retailer's card reader rather than swiped along the side of it. The first known RAM scraping attack was reported in an alert issued by the credit card company Visa Inc. in October 2008.

RAM Scraping Attack

Skimming is when thieves capture credit card information from a cardholder without their knowledge.

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Skimming is a method used by identity thieves to capture payment and personal information from a credit card holder. Several approaches can be used by fraudsters to procure card information, with the most advanced approach involving a small device called a skimmer that reads the information stored in a card's magnetic strip or microchip. Cardholders can check with their individual issuers through customer representatives or online resources to gain greater insight into any services or solutions that may be available to increase card security and mitigate compromised card information. At brick-and-mortar locations, a fraudster can use a small skimming device that allows them to swipe a card and obtain information from its magnetic strip. Skimming is a method used by identity thieves to capture payment and personal information from a credit card holder.

Skimming

Synthetic identity theft is a type of fraud in which a criminal combines real (usually stolen) and fake information to create a new identity.

Synthetic Identity Fraud in the U.S. Payment System

Synthetic identity theft is a type of fraud in which a criminal combines real and fake information to create a new identity. Synthetic identity theft is a type of fraud in which a criminal combines real and fake information to create a new identity. Synthetic identity theft is a type of fraud in which a criminal combines real and fake information to create a new identity. Synthetic identity theft allows the criminal to steal money from creditors including credit card companies who extend credit based on the fake identity. In some cases, criminals rack up fraudulent charges, then use real information used to create their fake identity to pose as a fraud victim and get their credit line restored.

Identity Theft

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Terms in Identity Theft

Catfishing

Credit Card Cloning

Credit Freeze

Identity Fraud Reimbursement Program

Identity Theft

Medical Identity Theft

RAM Scraping Attack

Skimming

Synthetic Identity Theft