Identity Theft & Prevention Flashcards

Which form of identity theft involves criminals using stolen identities specifically to gain employment and evade immigration enforcement?

Answer: Employment identity theft

Employment identity theft occurs when someone uses another person's SSN and identity to obtain work, which can result in tax problems and E-Verify complications for the true identity owner.

A suspect arrested for a crime gives police another person's identity. The innocent person then has arrest records attached to their identity. This is called:

Answer: Criminal identity theft

Criminal identity theft occurs when a person arrested for a crime uses someone else's identifying information, causing the innocent person to have a criminal record they cannot easily clear.

Which element is MOST critical for successfully prosecuting identity theft under 18 U.S.C. § 1028A (Aggravated Identity Theft)?

Answer: The defendant knowingly used another person's means of identification

Section 1028A requires proof that the defendant knowingly transferred, possessed, or used a means of identification of another person during a predicate felony offense.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) reduces identity theft risk primarily by:

Answer: Requiring attackers to compromise multiple independent verification factors

MFA requires attackers to defeat multiple distinct authentication factors (something you know, have, and/or are), significantly raising the difficulty of account compromise even with stolen credentials.

Which of the following best describes a 'skimming' attack used for identity theft?

Answer: Capturing card data via a hidden device placed on legitimate payment terminals

Skimming involves attaching a covert device to ATMs, gas pumps, or point-of-sale terminals that captures magnetic stripe data and PINs from unsuspecting cardholders.

When a consumer disputes a fraudulent account with a credit bureau under FCRA, the bureau must complete its investigation within:

Answer: 30 days

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumer reporting agencies must complete investigations of disputed information within 30 days (or 45 days if the consumer provides additional information).

The 'freeze' placed by a victim on their Social Security number with the Social Security Administration (SSA) is known as:

Answer: A self-lock through myE-Verify

The SSA's myE-Verify portal allows individuals to place a Self Lock on their SSN, preventing it from being used in E-Verify employment eligibility checks without their authorization.