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Account Takeover (Dictionary Entry)

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DRAFT

Account Takeover

Definitions

Definition 1

  • Complete literature review and provide definition

Related Terms

  • Account

  • Credential Theft

  • Identity Theft

  • True Name Identity Theft

Quotes

Identity Theft/Account Takeover: Identify theft involves a perpetrator stealing another person’s personal identifying information, such as name or Social Security number, without permission to commit fraud. Account Takeover is when a perpetrator obtains account information to perpetrate fraud on existing accounts.

(FBI and IC3, 2019, p. 26)

Typically, identity thieves will use the personal information to obtain credit, merchandise, services in the name of the victim, or false credentials for the thief. This can result in such things as ruining the victim’s credit rating, generating false criminal records, and issuing arrest warrants for the wrong individuals. Identity theft is categorized in two ways: true name and account takeover. True name identity theft means the thief uses personal information to open new accounts. The thief might open a new credit card account, establish cellular phone service, or open a new checking account in order to obtain blank checks. Account takeover identity theft means the imposter uses personal information to gain access to the person’s existing accounts. Typically, the thief will change the mailing address on an account and run up a huge bill before the person, whose identity has been stolen, realizes there is a problem. The Internet has made it easier for an identity thief to use the information they’ve stolen because transactions can be made without any personal interaction.

(Harris, 2007, p. 266)

Bibliography

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