What does identity theft involve?

Identity theft involves the unauthorized use of someone’s personal information to commit fraud. This can include using someone's Social Security number, credit card information, or other identifying details without their consent to impersonate them, access their financial resources, or make purchases in their name.

This type of crime can have serious consequences for the victim, such as financial loss, damaged credit scores, and the time-consuming process of repairing their identity. The act of stealing another person's personally identifiable information and misusing it for illicit purposes is the essence of identity theft, which is why this choice accurately defines the term.

The other options do not capture the essence of identity theft. For instance, borrowing personal belongings pertains to physical items, which does not relate to the concept of identity or personal information. Enhancing security focuses on prevention rather than the act of theft itself. Identifying a person through their ID generally refers to the legitimate verification of identity, not the fraudulent use of someone else's identity, which is central to the definition of identity theft.