What is the term for the unauthorized use of someone's identity to commit fraud?

The term for the unauthorized use of someone's identity to commit fraud is identity theft. This occurs when someone uses another person's personal information, such as their name, Social Security number, or financial details, without permission, typically to gain access to resources or make fraudulent transactions. Identity theft can lead to significant financial losses for the victim, damage to credit ratings, and a long process of recovery to restore their identity.

Understanding identity theft is crucial, as it encompasses a range of activities aimed at deception for financial gain through the exploitation of someone else’s identity. This differentiated it from concepts like data breach, which refers to the unauthorized access and retrieval of sensitive information from a system, and social engineering, which involves manipulating individuals into providing confidential information. Fraudulent access, while related, does not specifically capture the essence of stealing an individual's identity for the purpose of fraud.