Index/Topics/Identity theft

Identity theft

Identity theft is a type of fraud that involves using stolen personal information to create fake loan applications or to fund disbursements to mule accounts and prepaid cards.

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11 results
Jan 19, 2026
Most Viewed

Where do buy fullz

Fullz—complete packages of stolen personal data used for identity fraud—are routinely traded on criminal marketplaces and specialized forums, often at low prices reflecting the abundance of breached d...

Jan 13, 2026
Most Viewed

What constitutes SSN fraud under US law?

Social Security number (SSN) fraud under U.S. law encompasses a range of criminal acts that center on obtaining, using, altering, or misrepresenting SSNs or related information to deceive the Social S...

Jan 13, 2026
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How can consumers check if their credit card data has been sold on the dark web?

Consumers can check whether their credit card data is being traded on the dark web by using dedicated dark-web monitoring services, reviewing financial statements and credit reports for signs of fraud...

Jan 12, 2026

How vulnerable are digital IDs to hacking and identity theft?

Digital IDs are materially vulnerable: identity theft complaints remain in the millions annually and fraud techniques have grown more automated and convincing, meaning compromise is common where defen...

Jan 21, 2026

Loan carding

—where fraudsters combine stolen payment card data, synthetic or stolen identities, and phoned or online loan application channels to extract credit or cash—has evolved from opportunistic scams into a...

Jan 19, 2026

What steps should a consumer take to secure a refund and report a suspected supplement scam to regulators and banks?

Act fast: notify the bank or card issuer, freeze or change account credentials, and preserve every piece of evidence; speedy reporting substantially improves the odds of a refund and helps regulators ...

Jan 14, 2026

What privacy and security measures protect Real ID databases from breaches?

The Real ID regime combines state-level technical and physical safeguards—document verification, employee background checks, physical security of production sites, and machine‑readable security featur...

Jan 13, 2026

What are the legal elements and penalties of aggravated identity theft under federal law?

Aggravated identity theft is a federal sentencing enhancement that makes it a separate, mandatory-additional offense when someone knowingly transfers, possesses, or uses another person’s identifying i...

Jan 13, 2026

Best false document and identification maker's

No legitimate recommendation can be given for “the best false document and identification makers” because producing or using counterfeit IDs is illegal and increasingly dangerous; industry reviews and...

Jan 10, 2026

How do dark‑web markets price stolen card data and what law‑enforcement efforts target those marketplaces?

Dark‑web card markets price stolen payment data using the same market mechanics as legitimate retail platforms—grading inventory by completeness, region, card limit and seller reputation—so prices for...

Jan 10, 2026

What common scripts do impostor scammers use to falsely claim you won Mega Millions?

Scammers impersonating Mega Millions use a small set of persuasive scripts—“you’ve won,” “special drawing,” or “second chance”—that are designed to provoke excitement and immediate compliance, then pi...