{"id":133330,"date":"2024-03-21T06:30:38","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T13:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=133330"},"modified":"2024-04-24T16:51:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T23:51:53","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-identity-fraud-and-identity-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/whats-the-difference-between-identity-fraud-and-identity-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Tell The Difference Between Identity Fraud and Identity Theft?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What\u2019s the difference between identity fraud and identity theft? Well, it\u2019s subtle, so much so that it\u2019s easy to use them nearly interchangeably. While both can take a bite out of your wallet, they are different\u2014and knowing the differences can help you understand what\u2019s at stake.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Let\u2019s start with an overview and a few examples of each.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Identity fraud is \u2026<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When someone steals or misuses your personal information\u00a0to exploit\u00a0an account or accounts you already have.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Examples:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A criminal gets a hold of your debit card information\u00a0from a data breach\u00a0and makes purchases with it against your bank account.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A criminal gains access to one of your accounts via a phishing attack and misuses the funds or otherwise misuses the access associated with that account.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Identity theft is \u2026<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When someone uses your personal information to open and abuse new accounts or\u00a0services\u00a0in your name\u2014or possibly to impersonate you in other ways.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Examples:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A criminal uses your personal information to open a new line of credit at a retailer under your name and then makes purchases against the line of credit.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A criminal uses your Social Security Number to create a driver\u2019s license with their likeness but your name and personal information.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So there\u2019s that subtle difference we mentioned. Identity fraud involves the misuse of an existing account. Identity theft means the theft of your personal information, which is then used to impersonate you in some way, such as opening new accounts in your name.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Above and beyond those definitions and examples, a couple of real-life examples put the differences in perspective as well.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Identity fraud in the news<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As for identity fraud, individual cases of fraud don\u2019t always make the headlines, but that\u2019s not to say you won\u2019t hear about it in a couple of different ways.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The first way may be news stories about data breaches, where hackers gain things like names, emails, and payment information from companies or organizations.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0That info can then end up in the hands of a fraudster, who then accesses those accounts to drain funds or make purchases.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On a smaller scale, you may know someone who has had to get a new credit or debit card because theirs was compromised, perhaps by a\u00a0breach\u00a0or\u00a0by\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/how-to-spot-fake-login-pages?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">mistakenly\u00a0making a payment through an insecure website\u00a0or by visiting a phony login page as part of a phishing attack<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0These\u00a0can lead to\u00a0fraud as well.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Spotting identity fraud and theft (and preventing it too)<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It usually starts with someone saying anything from, \u201cThat\u2019s strange \u2026\u201d to \u201cOh, no!\u201d There\u2019ll be a strange charge\u00a0on your credit card bill,\u00a0a\u00a0piece of mail from a bill collector, or a statement from an account you never opened\u2014just to name a few things.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With that, I\u00a0have\u00a0a few\u00a0recent blogs that help you spot all kinds of identity crime, along with advice to help keep\u00a0it\u00a0from happening to you in the first place:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/consumer-cyber-awareness\/top-signs-of-identity-theft\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Top Signs of Identity\u00a0Theft<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/consumer-cyber-awareness\/how-to-report-identity-theft-to-social-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">How to Report Identity Theft to Social Security<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/consumer-cyber-awareness\/can-thieves-steal-identities-with-only-a-name-and-address\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Can Thieves Steal Identities with Only a Name and Address?<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/consumer-cyber-awareness\/quizzes-and-other-identity-theft-schemes-to-avoid-on-social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Quizzes and Other Identity Theft Schemes to Avoid on\u00a0Social Media<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Keep a sharp eye out<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While there are differences between identity fraud and identity theft, they do share a couple of things in common: you can take steps to prevent them, and you can take steps to limit their impact should you find yourself faced with one or the other.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The articles called out above will give you the details, yet staying safe begins with vigilance. Check on your accounts and credit reports regularly and really scrutinize what\u2019s happening in them. Consider covering yourself with an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/identity-monitoring\/\">identity monitoring solution <\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2014 and act on anything that looks strange or outright fishy by reporting it to the company or institution in question.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What\u2019s the difference between identity fraud and identity theft? Well, it\u2019s subtle, so much so that it\u2019s easy to use&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1408,"featured_media":186740,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10670,13],"tags":[11419,142,11416],"coauthors":[15741],"class_list":["post-133330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-tricks","category-privacy-identity-protection","tag-identity-fraud","tag-tag-identity-theft","tag-identity-theft-vs-fraud"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How To Tell The Difference Between Identity Fraud and Identity Theft? | McAfee Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What\u2019s the difference between identity fraud and identity theft? 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