This type of fraud involves opening credit or service accounts using someone else’s identity.
Wht is New Account Fraud?
Phony emails or websites that trick people into giving personal info are called this.
What is phishing?
A notice for a credit card you never opened is an example of this.
What is an unexpected bill?
Turn on this security feature that requires more than a password to log in.
What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)?
First step: gather bills, letters, and screenshots — put them in one of these for your records.
What is documentation?
When fraudsters make up an identity using a real Social Security number plus fake details, it’s called this.
What is a synthetic identity?
If someone redirects or steals your delivered bills or offers by changing addresses, it’s this tactic.
What is mail theft or address manipulation?
These on your credit report show a company checked your credit when you didn’t apply for anything.
What are hard inquiries?
Shredding old documents with your personal information helps prevent this method of data theft.
What is dumpster diving or physical document theft?
In the U.S., you can file an identity theft report at this official website (two words).
What is identitytheft.gov?
This broad term refers to criminals using personal data stolen from breaches to commit fraud.
What is identity theft?
Employees abusing access to customer records to open accounts is called this type of risk.
What is insider abuse?
If you get bills or collection calls for accounts you never opened, that is a major sign of this.
What is New Account Fraud or identity theft?
To block new creditors from opening accounts in your name, you can place this with credit bureaus.
What is a credit freeze?
After discovering fraud, place this alert or freeze with the credit bureaus to warn creditors.
What is a fraud alert or credit freeze?
New Account Fraud can impact your credit score and this record that lenders use to judge you.
What is your credit report?
Creating accounts using a mix of real and fabricated details is typically called creating a ______ identity
What is a synthetic identity?
Receiving alerts for sign-ins from devices or locations you don't recognize may signal this.
What is suspicious account activity?
Instead of giving your SSN freely, the pamphlet recommends doing this only when it is truly ______.
What is necessary / required?
You may want to file this with local law enforcement to create formal evidence for the case.
What is a police report?
This is the typical motive: the fraudster opens accounts to do this (two words).
What is obtain credit (or steal funds)?
Using a victim’s existing credentials to take control of their actual account is known as ______ takeover.
What is account (or identity) takeover?
Being denied credit because of accounts or debts you didn’t create indicates problems on this document.
What is your credit report?
Using a manager that stores complex passwords helps because you no longer reuse simple ones; it’s called a ______ manager.
What is a password manager?
Besides disputing items, you should also change these and enable MFA to lock out future attackers.
What are passwords / account credentials?