Which statement defines Identity Theft?

• A. Identity Theft
• B. Criminal Impersonation
• C. Forgery (3rd Degree)
• D. Obstructing Justice with a False Identity

Answer: (A)

Identity theft is the crime of taking or using someone else’s identifying information without permission to carry out fraud or to obtain money, goods, or services in the victim’s name. The defining idea is using another person’s data—like a name, Social Security number, or account details—to deceive or gain value, with the intent to defraud. This is why it fits the statement labeled as Identity Theft: it centers on using another person’s identifiers to commit fraudulent acts.

Criminal impersonation, by contrast, is about presenting yourself as someone else to mislead others or authorities, not necessarily using their data to obtain something. Forgery involves creating or altering documents to defraud. Obstructing justice with a false identity focuses on deceiving the legal system by presenting a false identity during legal proceedings.