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Training Camp • Cybersecurity Glossary
Synthetic identity fraud combines real and fake personal data to create fictitious identities used to build credit and commit financial fraud.
Synthetic Identity Fraud Definition: Synthetic identity fraud combines real and fake personal data to create fictitious identities used to build credit and commit financial fraud.
Synthetic identity fraud is a scheme in which criminals combine real and fabricated personal information, such as a stolen or fake Social Security number paired with a fictitious name and date of birth, to create a new, non-existent identity. The fraudster cultivates the synthetic identity over time to build credit, then maxes out accounts and disappears in a 'bust-out.' Because no single real victim notices, it is hard to detect and is one of the fastest-growing forms of financial crime.
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