What term describes criminals stealing personal information such as social security numbers and credit card numbers to take over or open accounts?

• A. Identity theft
• B. Phishing
• C. Breach
• D. Security incident

Answer: (A)

Identity theft is the unauthorized use of someone’s personal information—such as a Social Security number or credit card details—to impersonate them and take over existing accounts or open new ones. This crime hinges on stealing the data and using it to fraudulently act as the victim, often slipping past checks for credit or service access. Phishing is a method criminals use to trick victims into revealing credentials, but the term asked describes what happens with the stolen data, not how it’s obtained. A breach refers to the event where data is exposed, not the act of using that data to fraudulently assume someone’s identity. A security incident is a broader term for any event affecting security, not specifically the misuse of personal information to open or seize accounts. So the best fit for criminals stealing personal information to take over or open accounts is identity theft.