Akademik

n.

The theft of a person's financial information with the intention of using that data to commit fraud.

"As Americans engage in an increasing number of financial transactions, identity theft continues to increase. Trans Union, one of the three major credit rating agencies, told the Government Accounting Office that reports of identity theft increased from 35,000 in 1992 to 500,000 in 1997."

— Ann Perry, "Small-hearted thieves are after your good name," The San Diego Union-Tribune, December 12, 1999