Identity Fraud and Identity Theft

993 Words4 Pages
Explain the terms ‘Identity Theft’ and ‘Identity Fraud’ and how they are different. Discuss some examples of the above terms and explain how consumers can protect themselves from this type of crime. (10 Marks) Identity fraud (also called identity theft) is wh en somebody pretends to be another person. Identity theft included any unauthorised usage of another person’s personal information with the intention of committing fraud. A person’s identity and personal information are valuable but we live in an information age where this information can become available to others who might use this to open up bank accounts, get credit cards, loans, welfare benefits, buy things in your name and even apply for passports and driving licences in your name. Identity theft includes any unauthorized usage of another’s personal information with a fraudulent intention. Information most commonly stolen can start with a person’s address, and include their National Insurance number, driver’s license, or any means of identification. From this, a criminal would obtain benefits from the stolen identity, and it takes great investigation to track its path. This crime is a growing threat Early this year, Sky News Investigator Jason Farrell reported that Identity fraud has risen to a record level according making it more likely for people to have their identities stolen. Criminals now use online methods like hacking, malware or Phishing emails to steal people’s personal information. Most astonishing is that identity theft makes up 58% of all fraud. An individual might not know straight away if their indentity has been stolen. Therefore it is important that they protect their details and are aware of any signs that their identity might have been stolen. There are many examples of instances where an individual will be affected with ID theft/fraud and these include when someone sees

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