Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Maedeh Mosharraf ¹
• Fatemeh Hora Haghighatkhah ²

¹ Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

² Computer Engineering student, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

While the growth of technology has greatly benefited humanity, it also brings along several drawbacks that can undermine these benefits. Despite its ability to detect attacks and deter various forms of theft, technology is often regarded as a tool for creating new theft techniques. Conducting a systematic review, this article discusses the current state of the art in terms of identity theft motivations, the techniques employed, and the potential harm inflicted upon victims. The paper findings reveal that the reasons behind such incidents can be categorized into seven main categories: financial, commercial, health and medical, educational, citizenship, Internet of Things (IoT), and informational. Fraudsters employ various methods to steal identity information, which can be categorized as social engineering, vulnerabilities, malware, eavesdropping, and information gathering. However, it is important to note that not all identity theft reasons are a concern for people of all ages. This article addresses the examination of potential threats within different age groups. Tragically, victims of identity theft often endure significant financial, legal, social, and health harm as a result of these malicious activities. One of the primary strategies to combat this crime involves investigating the causes, methods, and age distribution of the potential victim population.

Keywords

• Identity theft
• financial fraud
• social engineering attacks
• information fraud
• citizenship fraud
• age
• identity fraud

Main Subjects

• Security and Privacy