Identity theft isn’t new, but the ways criminals steal and use your personal information are constantly evolving. It’s more important than ever to understand the different forms it can take, especially the distinction between traditional identity theft and the newer, more sophisticated synthetic identity theft.
We outline the two types of identity theft and the steps you can take to prevent it.
Two Faces of Identity Theft
This occurs when a hacker or other bad actor steals real information belonging to an actual person—such as name, Social Security Number (SSN), birth date, address, or financial account information—to impersonate them.
1. Traditional Identity Theft
Common methods include:
- Phishing emails or scam calls
- Data breaches
- Dumpster diving
- Social engineering using data found via OSINT (e.g., LinkedIn job history, public photos of ID cards)
Consequences:
- Unlawful purchases or loans
- Damage to credit score
- Tax refund fraud
- Criminal records falsely assigned to the victim
2. Synthetic Identity Theft
Synthetic identity theft is even harder to detect. Here, scammers combine real and fake information to create a new, “synthetic” identity. For example, they might use a stolen SSN (often from children or the elderly) and pair it with a fictitious name, birth date, and address.
Uses:
- Opening credit cards or loan accounts
- Creating fake business identities
- Laundering money
How to Protect Yourself
- Keep your social media private: Lock down social media profiles and avoid posting sensitive personal info.
- Use multifactor authentication (MFA): Even if login credentials are compromised, MFA can prevent unauthorized access.
- Monitor credit reports: Check regularly through major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).
- Freeze your credit: Prevent unauthorized credit applications in your name.
- Watch for signs of synthetic fraud: Unexpected mail, denial of credit, or errors in your child’s credit file.
- Monitor the surface, deep, and dark web: Watch for exposed personal information to catch threats early.
Ready to take control of your digital presence and protect your personal information? Our Online Investigative team has the real-world experience to help. With years of proven results, we’ll work with you to uncover risks and keep your information secure.
Download this flyer to stay informed on how traditional and synthetic identity theft can impact you—and how to fight back.