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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
What is "identity theft"?
Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number of references to "identity theft".
The first time I encountered it was when a Professor Mahmood Mall visited Pretoria about 12 years ago, and there was a bit of newspaper publicity. He was travelling the world trying to make the public aware of the replacement of known and unknown persons by unknown and known persons.
He sounded like a nutty conspiracy theorist, and most of the newspaper reports were tingue-in-cheek. Since then the term "identify theft" has become more and more comon, and I wonder whether there really is a possibility that I will come home one day and find someone else living in my house, pretending to be me, and nobody in my family believing that I'm me, and in the end I will be locked up in a lunatic asylum for thinking I'm someone else, but really because someone has stolen my identity.
When I've asked about it, it seems that what most people seem to mean by the term is nothing more than "impersonation".
Is there anything more to it than that, and if so, what?
Steve Hayes
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
The first time I encountered it was when a Professor Mahmood Mall visited Pretoria about 12 years ago, and there was a bit of newspaper publicity. He was travelling the world trying to make the public aware of the replacement of known and unknown persons by unknown and known persons.
He sounded like a nutty conspiracy theorist, and most of the newspaper reports were tingue-in-cheek. Since then the term "identify theft" has become more and more comon, and I wonder whether there really is a possibility that I will come home one day and find someone else living in my house, pretending to be me, and nobody in my family believing that I'm me, and in the end I will be locked up in a lunatic asylum for thinking I'm someone else, but really because someone has stolen my identity.
When I've asked about it, it seems that what most people seem to mean by the term is nothing more than "impersonation".
Is there anything more to it than that, and if so, what?
Steve Hayes
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
Top answer
[nq:1]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number of references to "identity theft". The first time I encountered ... by the term is nothing more than "impersonation".
- [nq:1]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number of references to "identity theft".
- The first time I encountered ...
- by the term is nothing more than "impersonation".
- [/nq]It's a kind of impersonation, but of a new variety.
- Identity thieves typically obtain enough data about a person to be able to answer the few questions asked these days of people seeking credit cards or drivers licenses.
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31 Answers
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[nq:1]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number of references to "identity theft". The first time I encountered ... by the term is nothing more than "impersonation". Is there anything more to it than that, and if so, what?[/nq]It's a kind of impersonation, but of a new variety. Identity thieves typically obtain enough data about a person to be able to answer the few questions asked th
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The inimitable (Email Removed) (Steve Hayes) stated on 07 Sep 2003:
[nq:1]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number of references to "identity theft". The first time I encountered ... by the term is nothing more than "impersonation". Is there anything more to it than that, and if so, what?[/nq]From my understanding of the term, identity theft occurs when someone gets enough of you
[nq:1]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number of references to "identity theft". The first time I encountered ... by the term is nothing more than "impersonation". Is there anything more to it than that, and if so, what?[/nq]From my understanding of the term, identity theft occurs when someone gets enough of you
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[nq:1]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number of references to "identity theft". The first time I encountered ... by the term is nothing more than "impersonation". Is there anything more to it than that, and if so, what?[/nq]
That is basically it - impersonation with the papers to prove it.
Given the correct personal details an impersonator can obtain a drivers license,
That is basically it - impersonation with the papers to prove it.
Given the correct personal details an impersonator can obtain a drivers license,
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[nq:2]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number ... anything more to it than that, and if so, what?[/nq]
[nq:1]That is basically it - impersonation with the papers to prove it. Given the correct personal details an impersonator can ... a passport. From that point forward they are you, their crimes are your crimes, and your money is their money.[/nq]
I am involved in an identit
[nq:1]That is basically it - impersonation with the papers to prove it. Given the correct personal details an impersonator can ... a passport. From that point forward they are you, their crimes are your crimes, and your money is their money.[/nq]
I am involved in an identit
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[nq:2]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number ... anything more to it than that, and if so, what?[/nq]
[nq:1]It's a kind of impersonation, but of a new variety. Identity thieves typically obtain enough data about a person to ... up on sharing of information in ways that make identity theft harder, but I doubt they will ever stop it.[/nq]
I don't see much difference between t
[nq:1]It's a kind of impersonation, but of a new variety. Identity thieves typically obtain enough data about a person to ... up on sharing of information in ways that make identity theft harder, but I doubt they will ever stop it.[/nq]
I don't see much difference between t
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[nq:2]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number ... anything more to it than that, and if so, what?[/nq]
[nq:1]From my understanding of the term, identity theft occurs when someone gets enough of your personal information (bank account #s, ... can ruin your credit rating, and in America, that can mean that suicide will offer you a more staisfactory lifestyle.[/nq]
That's one r
[nq:1]From my understanding of the term, identity theft occurs when someone gets enough of your personal information (bank account #s, ... can ruin your credit rating, and in America, that can mean that suicide will offer you a more staisfactory lifestyle.[/nq]
That's one r
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[nq:1]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number of references to "identity theft". The first time I encountered ... is nothing more than "impersonation". Is there anything more to it than that, and if so, what? Steve Hayes http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
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The inimitable (Email Removed) (Steve Hayes) stated on 07 Sep 2003:
[nq:1]But it still seems to be imperonation rather than identity theft. The person pretends to be me, but does not *become". I do not wake up one mirning and find I don't know who I am because someone has stolen my identity.[/nq]
In most instances, I would agree that it amounts to simple impersonation. The problem is when
[nq:1]But it still seems to be imperonation rather than identity theft. The person pretends to be me, but does not *become". I do not wake up one mirning and find I don't know who I am because someone has stolen my identity.[/nq]
In most instances, I would agree that it amounts to simple impersonation. The problem is when
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[nq:1]Over the last few years I've seen an increasing number of references to "identity theft".[/nq]
(story snipped)
[nq:1]When I've asked about it, it seems that what most people seem to mean bythe term is nothing more than "impersonation". Is there anything more to it than that, and if so, what?[/nq]
Here is some FBI testimony regarding the matter:
(story snipped)
[nq:1]When I've asked about it, it seems that what most people seem to mean bythe term is nothing more than "impersonation". Is there anything more to it than that, and if so, what?[/nq]
Here is some FBI testimony regarding the matter:
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[nq:1]... I don't see much difference between that and impersonation. In fact it *is* impersonation.[/nq]
Yes, it is, but it's not impersonation in general. It's strictly for financial gain and/or criminal evasion, as opposed to other "traditional" impersonations such as in the spy industry or for comedy/novelty purposes.
Yes, it is, but it's not impersonation in general. It's strictly for financial gain and/or criminal evasion, as opposed to other "traditional" impersonations such as in the spy industry or for comedy/novelty purposes.
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