Online Identity Theft

Online identity theft refers to the unauthorized use of someone's personal information, such as their name, social security number, or credit card number, to commit fraud or other illegal activities online. Online identity theft can result in financial loss, damage to credit scores, and reputational harm. Online identity theft can occur through various methods, such as phishing, hacking, and social engineering.

Subfields of Online Identity Theft

• Phishing: a type of online identity theft that involves sending fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or an online retailer, in order to trick the recipient into providing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers.
  
  
• Hacking: a type of online identity theft that involves gaining unauthorized access to a computer system or network, often by exploiting vulnerabilities or using stolen credentials. Hackers can steal personal information, install malware, and cause other types of damage.
  
  
• Social engineering: a type of online identity theft that involves manipulating people into divulging sensitive information, such as passwords or personal data, through techniques such as pretexting, baiting, or phishing. Social engineering attacks can be difficult to detect and can occur through various channels, such as email, phone calls, or social media.
  
  
• Malware: a type of software that is designed to harm, steal data, or otherwise compromise a computer system or network. Malware can be used to steal personal information, such as usernames and passwords, or to install additional malware on a system. Common types of malware used in online identity theft include viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware.
  
  
• Identity theft monitoring: a service that monitors a person's credit report, social security number, and other personal information for signs of unauthorized use or suspicious activity. Identity theft monitoring can help detect identity theft early, allowing victims to take action to mitigate the damage.
  
  

Subfields of Identity Theft

• Medical identity theft: a type of identity theft where a thief uses someone's personal information to obtain medical services or prescription drugs. This can lead to incorrect medical records, medical billing issues, and other problems.
  
  
• Tax identity theft: a type of identity theft where a thief uses someone's personal information to file a fraudulent tax return and obtain a refund. Victims may not be aware of the fraud until they try to file their own tax return.
  
  
• Child identity theft: a type of identity theft where a thief uses a child's social security number to open new accounts or apply for credit. This can go undetected for years, and may only be discovered when the child becomes an adult and tries to apply for credit on their own.
  
  
• Identity theft insurance: a type of insurance that helps victims of identity theft recover from the financial and legal consequences of the crime. This may include reimbursement for lost wages, legal fees, and other expenses related to identity theft.
  
  
• Identity theft protection: a service that helps prevent identity theft by monitoring credit reports, alerting individuals to suspicious activity, and providing resources for victims of identity theft. Some identity theft protection services may also offer insurance coverage.