The crime of collecting someone's personal information and pretending to be that person is known as ____________.

Identity theft is the crime of stealing another person's personal information and using it to impersonate them for fraudulent purposes. Criminals may obtain details such as a person's name, national identity number, credit card information, bank account details, passwords, or... Read More

1 BASIC COMPUTER MCQS

The crime of collecting someone's personal information and pretending to be that person is known as ____________.

  • Spooling
  • Identity Theft
  • Spoofing
  • Hacking
Correct Answer: B. Identity Theft

Detailed Explanation

Identity theft is the crime of stealing another person's personal information and using it to impersonate them for fraudulent purposes. Criminals may obtain details such as a person's name, national identity number, credit card information, bank account details, passwords, or other confidential data. They then use this information to access accounts, make unauthorized purchases, or commit financial fraud. 


Identity theft can occur through various methods, including phishing emails, fake websites, data breaches, malware, social engineering, and stolen documents. Once personal information is compromised, the victim may suffer financial losses, damaged credit records, or unauthorized access to online accounts. To reduce the risk of identity theft, users should create strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), avoid sharing sensitive information, and verify the authenticity of websites before entering personal details.


Key Point:



  • Identity Theft: Stealing personal information to impersonate another person. 

  • Common Methods: Phishing, malware, fake websites, and data breaches.

  • Spoofing: Impersonating a trusted source to deceive users.

  • Hacking: Unauthorized access to computer systems or accounts.

  • Spooling: Temporary storage of data before processing or printing.


Exam Tip: Remember the distinction:



  • Identity Theft = Stealing someone's identity.

  • Spoofing = Pretending to be a trusted source.

  • Hacking = Unauthorized access to computer systems.

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