 TITLE: What Is Credit Fraud? CONTENT: Types of Credit Fraud\n---------------------\nThere are at least 20 distinct types of credit fraud. All are forms of identity theft, distinguished by some combination of:\n*   **The type of personal information used to assume the victim's identity.** Stolen credit cards, account numbers, usernames and passwords, and Social Security numbers are among the many pieces of personal information that can be used to commit credit fraud.\n*   **The means by which personal information is stolen.** Criminals can gain possession of your personal information in many ways, including phishing scams conducted by phone, email or social media; skimming credit card data via bogus card readers; copying passwords, PIN codes and other information by looking over your shoulder; stealing your driver's license (which can be used to request birth certificates and other info), mail or credit cards; and purchasing lists of information leaked in data breaches.\n*   **The type of credit obtained through fraud.** Identity thieves use a variety of techniques to hijack credit, including opening new loans or credit card accounts in your name; taking control of existing credit card (or bank) accounts by changing mailing addresses and passwords; going on spending sprees with stolen credit cards or account numbers; opening one or more accounts in the names of your minor children who otherwise wouldn't have personal credit reports; and associating your name with another consumer's credit data to create a fictitious \"hybrid\" account they control. END