Online Identity Theft Definitions, Risks, Victimization and Countermeasures: an Overview

Over the past few years, online identity theft has become an increasing problem across the world due to the growing popularity of the Internet and digital technologies. Many academic articles and publications examine this issue and offer solutions to prevent and combat it. But what is the subject matter? Online identity theft is a crime consisting of the unauthorised acquisition of an individual’s personal information, such as name, date of birth, social security number, banking information and other sensitive information, in order to commit fraud or other crimes. Therefore, the term “digital identity theft” is used: “to categorize several offenses involving the fraudulent use of an individual’s personal information for criminal purposes and without their consent.” In other words, online identity theft refers to the process by which an individual acquires and uses another person’s personal information for illicit purposes, such as opening a bank account or applying for a loan. (5) Consequently, in this chapter, we will address the extensive and increasingly significant topic of digital identity theft, the forms in which this phenomenon manifests itself, and from not only a criminological but also a victimological perspective, what are the consequences for those who fall victim to this type of fraud, and finally, how the involved actors, both institutional and private, can act to counter its negative effects. More specifically, in the first part, we will contextualise the phenomenon within its digital component, define the boundaries of the debate on the distinction between fraud and theft, and analyse the associated risk factors. Subsequently, it will be essential to emphasise the victimological dimension of the issue and the consequences experienced by the victims of such a crime, and finally, we will conclude by examining the various countermeasures implemented to mitigate these actions.