To define Identity Theft, one may refer to many different sources but, what it all boils down to is that it occurs when someone steals another person’s name and other personal information to fraudulently use such illegally obtained means of identification information for nefarious activities. It is an act of impersonation that uses another person’s personal information like a date of birth, Social Security number, address, and name as well as credit and banking account information for illicit means. It is also co-opting of an individuals personal information without the individuals knowledge and consent and, using this information to purposely deceive others. It is a deliberate assumption of another person’s identity which is most often used to gain access to their finances or, implicate them in a crime. It is also used for illegal immigration, terrorism and espionage as well as for changing identity personally. These are some of the most common ways in which one may define identity theft.

Identity Theft First Defined in 1996

To define identity theft, we can go back to 1996 when it first started getting the attention of the world and, was added to American vernacular. The Federal Trade Commission was greatly concerned by the criminal abuse of consumers’ means of identification through theft or other fraudulent means. To define identity theft, one has to realize that it is physically impossible to steal another person’s identity; however, stealing their means of identification is possible and, is now a part of a growing trend in white-collar crime in the US.

Some people prefer the definition of identity theft as meaning unlawful exploitation of their means of identification for unlawful purposes. Another line of thought, with regard to the definition of identity theft, proposes that the criminal actually deprives the owner of his or her identity when the thief replaces the victim’s identity with their own dubious reputation. A common thread one can see in defining Identity Theft is that it involves illegally acquiring the personal information of a victim in order to perpetrate impersonation of the victim’s identity.

One needs to define identity theft in all its different manifestations as the scheming minds of criminals can conceive of and put into action many clever schemes to dupe authorities as well as incriminate victims. Blackmail is also another instance of how identity theft may be used against unsuspecting victims. Now that a clear and concise definition of identity theft has been determined, a big step against this criminal act will have been won.