Identity theft is defined as the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information, usually for financial gain. Which statement best matches this definition?

• A. A legitimate process of applying for credit with consent
• B. The fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information, usually for financial gain
• C. Accessing public records to verify identity
• D. A simple password reset request

Answer: (B)

Identity theft involves fraudulently obtaining and using someone’s private identifying information, usually to gain financial benefit. The statement that describes this activity precisely matches that definition by naming both the fraudulent acquisition and the use of private identifying information for financial gain. The other options describe legitimate or unrelated actions: applying for credit with consent is a lawful process, accessing public records to verify identity is a normal verification step, and a password reset request is a routine security action.