Sneha Pillai, School of Law, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
ABSTRACT:
This research explains identity theft, its various manifestations, prevention tactics, tell-tale signs thatit’s happening, and laws that are relevant to it. Identity theft is a type of cybercrime which involves stealing of an individual’s identity and information to commit a crime or receive a benefit or access resources in the name of the victim. Usually, the individual obtains the information using fraudulentmethods online however, this crime does not have its roots in the digital age. The 21st century has made the world a virtual village where anything can be found with the touch of a button, and as a result, computers’ information storage capacity has greatly risen. Human contacts have greatly growndue to technology’s rapid development and progress. Along with all the benefits, there are several crimes or illegal activities that are referred to as cybercrimes. Identity is what makes a person unique. In the world of computers, an identity is made up of a set ofdigits and integers that are all individually unique. In technological terms, no two people can share the same identity. It is unique to each person, much like a fingerprint. Legal acknowledgment of a person’s identity can be found in official records and documents including ration cards, voter identification cards, and Aadhar cards. It often includes the person’s name, residence, birthdate, marital status, and occupation. Nearly all official IDs provide this most basic information. The Information Technology (Amendment) Act of 20081 has expanded the definition of identification toencompass the idea of electronic signatures and passwords. Because these details are so crucial and valuable, keeping them safe is everyone’s top priority. When identity theft occurs, the perpetrator frequently uses another person’s name or similar information in order to profit financially. Keywords: Identity, Thefts, Crime, Victims, Cyber, Offences
