Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What is the term for identity theft where the perpetrator impersonates someone else to hide their identity?

1. Identity Cloning and Concealment

2. Financial Identity Theft

3. Synthetic Identity Theft

4. Medical Identity Theft

The correct answer is: Identity Cloning and Concealment

The correct term for the act of identity theft where a perpetrator impersonates someone else in order to conceal their true identity is known as synthetic identity theft. This form of identity theft involves creating a new identity by combining real and fictitious information, making it challenging to trace back to the perpetrator. Synthetic identity theft often involves the use of legitimate personal information, such as social security numbers, to generate a new, unique identity that can be used for financial gain or to avoid detection. It is a sophisticated crime because the identity created appears legitimate, complicating the process of identifying and prosecuting the criminal. The other options refer to specific types of identity theft: financial identity theft focuses on stealing personal information to access financial accounts, medical identity theft involves using someone’s identity to obtain medical services, and identity cloning and concealment typically describes a broader spectrum of identity theft where the thief tries to replicate another person's identity without necessarily creating a new one.