CSCU Mitigating Identity Theft 2

Question 1

What is synthetic identity theft?

Accepted Answer

Creating a new fictitious identity by combining real and fabricated personal information

Answer

Synthetic identity theft involves combining real data elements (like a legitimate Social Security number) with fake information (name, date of birth) to create an entirely new, fictitious identity for fraud.

Question 2

How does a credit freeze help protect against identity theft?

Accepted Answer

It restricts access to your credit report, preventing new accounts from being opened in your name

Answer

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, making it impossible for identity thieves to open new credit accounts in your name since creditors cannot check your credit history.

Question 3

What is credential stuffing and how does it relate to identity theft?

Accepted Answer

Using stolen username/password combinations from one data breach to gain access to accounts on other services where users reused the same credentials

Answer

Credential stuffing exploits the common habit of password reuse by automatically testing username/password pairs leaked from one breach against many other websites and services.

Question 4

Why should you regularly review your bank and credit card statements for identity theft prevention?

Accepted Answer

To detect unauthorized transactions that may indicate someone is using your financial accounts

Answer

Regular statement review helps detect unauthorized transactions early, as identity thieves often start with small test charges before making larger fraudulent purchases.

Question 5

What is the purpose of a fraud alert on your credit report?

Accepted Answer

It notifies creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before approving new credit applications

Answer

A fraud alert flags your credit report to warn creditors that they should verify the applicant's identity through additional steps before opening new credit accounts.

CSCU - Certified Secure Computer User Practice Test

CSCU - Certified Secure Computer User Practice Test

CSCU Mitigating Identity Theft 2