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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
Raphael Raymond Nunn, 58, of St. Paul, was found guilty of kidnapping, bank fraud and identity theft after robbing two women at gunpoint and stealing from another, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger said Friday.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 25 May 2024
For example, some crashes that don’t result in injuries and reports of identity theft are being funneled to the department’s online reporting system so officers can focus on responding to other calls.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2024
That left Pooley guilty on two counts of wire fraud and one count of identity theft.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 24 May 2024
Solutions exist: antivirus software, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), password managers, identity theft monitoring, to name but a few.
—Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for identity theft
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 12 Jun. 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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