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Identity theft

UK //aɪˈdɛntɪti θɛft// US //aɪˈdɛntɪti θɛft// Pronunciation

Definition

The act of stealing someone's personal information for fraud or crime.

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In simple words: Stealing someone's personal information to commit fraud.

Examples

• Many people fear becoming a victim of identity theft.
• Identity theft can lead to serious financial issues.
• She reported an identity theft incident to the authorities.
• Preventing identity theft is crucial in today's digital world.

Usage notes

Used in legal and financial contexts. Less common in casual conversations. Avoid using in non-serious discussions.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun phrase

Memory hint

Think of 'identity' like your personal stamp and 'theft' like stealing it.

Collocations

• prevent identity theft
• report identity theft
• victim of identity theft

Synonyms

• identity fraud
• personal information theft
• data theft
• identity misappropriation

Common mistakes

• Confused with 'identity fraud', which is slightly different.
• Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to identity theft') instead of a noun.