02 Jul Fraud Terminology

In order to better understand how identity theft and cybercrimes occur and how to protect yourself, it is important to know the associated terminology.

Cybercrime

A crime in which the computer or network is the object of the crime.

Fraud

Anytime a person gains access to information, money, or physical assets by engaging in a criminal act.

Hacker

A person who uses the internet to illegally gain entry into computers.

Identity Theft

When someone steals a person’s identity or personal information (e.g. social security number, name, passport number, etc.) without permission with the intent to commit a crime.

Malware

Computer viruses that disrupt access to a computer in an attempt to gather sensitive information, data, or files.

Phishing

This is a type of cybercrime where a criminal poses as a legitimate person or company in an attempt to gather personally identifying information or financial information from unsuspecting individuals.

Ransomware

A malicious computer program that restricts access or disables the user’s computer and requires a fee to either fix the issue.

Skimming

A technology that captures the information from the magnetic strip on an ATM or credit card by installing a “skimming” device on card readers.

Staying up-to-date on new forms of identity fraud, identity theft, and cybercrimes is one of the best ways to help defend yourself from these malicious acts. Core ID customers are protected by cyber tracking, risk alerts, and have peace of mind with a fully managed recovery service. Contact Core ID to start protecting you and your family today!