Identity Development
Description
Identity development is a class of activities that a fraudster may do after they have obtained personal information and before this information is used to commit an identity fraud or other identity-related crime. These activities may be intended either to add to the credibility of a false identity or to make the planned crime harder to detect. Transfer or selling of personal information to others, for illegal purposes, is also part of identity development.
Illustrations
Examples of activities that constitute identity development are:
- Counterfeiting
- Document breeding
- Conspiracy
- Applying for a change of address
- Intercepting mail
- Trafficking in identity information
References
Identity Theft: Inventory of Techniques (DRAFT), Canadian Internet Privacy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC), University of Ottawa, June 16, 2006 - Sections 4 and 5
Relationships
Preceding activities:
A false identity can be developed from personal information that pertains to a real person. In this case, identity development follows from the collection of this personal information.
In other cases, the activities in identity development may involve the creation of a false identity that is not based on a real person or may be used to manipulate a person's own identity in order to commit identity frauds or other crimes.
Subsequent activities:
The activities in identity development are generally undertaken so that the false identity can be used in the commission of crimes such as fraud, personation, smuggling or terrorism.
Associated Terms
Identity integration - synonym for identity development
Identity consolidation - synonym for identity development
Observations
Certain kinds of identity frauds may also help to develop a false identity. Fraudsters who use synthetic identities often establish cellular phone service under the synthetic identity before attempting other frauds. the phone service lends credibility to their applications for other services or credit accounts.