Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist Certification (CAMS) Practice Exam

How is identity theft commonly perpetrated?

1. By acquiring personal information through stealth and misrepresentation

2. Through hacking into bank databases

3. By phishing emails requesting sensitive information

4. Using fake documents to mislead authorities

The correct answer is: By acquiring personal information through stealth and misrepresentation

The most comprehensive method of committing identity theft involves acquiring personal information through stealth and misrepresentation. This approach allows the perpetrator to gather sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, bank account details, and other personal identifiers often without the victim's knowledge. Techniques can include social engineering tactics such as pretending to be a trustworthy entity or exploiting information from social media profiles to create a compelling narrative that tricks individuals into revealing their private information. While options like hacking into bank databases, phishing emails, and using fake documents do represent methods used in identity theft, they are more specific instances or tactics. Hacking typically requires a higher level of technical skill and access, whereas phishing is primarily focused on soliciting information through deceptive communication. Using fake documents is a method of impersonation during formal processes, which can be a form of identity theft but usually occurs after the initial personal information has been obtained. The first option encompasses a broader range of tactics and highlights the crucial importance of understanding how personal information can be accessed through subtle deception, making it the most accurate choice.