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identity theft
noun
: the illegal use of someone else's personal information (such as a Social Security number) especially in order to obtain money or credit
Examples of identity theft in a Sentence
How can we protect ourselves against identity theft?
Recent Examples on the Web
Whether those services are useful is open to question — after a 2017 data breach at the credit reporting firm Equifax exposed the personal data of 143 million Americans, the identity theft service LifeLock trumpeted its protective services (at $29.99 a month).
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2024
The Allworth Advice is that putting either in place to help prevent identity theft is better than nothing.
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Amy Wagner and Steve Hruby, The Enquirer, 31 July 2024
The charges against Santos include wire fraud, unemployment fraud, aggravated identity theft and lying to the Federal Election Commission.
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Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 19 July 2024
Overwhelmed users might either take offers of faux assistance that lead to identity theft, or throw away money on bogus solutions to this problem.
—
Richard Forno, The Conversation, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for identity theft ![](/dist-cross-dungarees/2024-08-15--15-22-11-hrh2al/images/svg/redesign/arrow-right-exemplar.svg)
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'identity theft.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1964, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near identity theft
Cite this Entry
“Identity theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity%20theft. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Legal Definition
identity theft
see theft
More from Merriam-Webster on identity theft
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about identity theft
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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