The List: Download Vocabulary
Flash Cards: Check comprehension
The Vocabulary:
Account Takeover – When someone gains control of your existing account (like email or banking) to steal money or data
Active Duty Alert – A 1-year fraud alert designed for military members serving away from home; can be renewed while deployed
Credential Stuffing – Using stolen usernames and passwords from one site to try and access accounts on other sites
Credit Freeze – Lock placed on your credit file so new accounts can’t be opened until you lift the freeze
Data Breech – When sensitive personal information is exposed due to a security failure
Extended Fraud Alert – A 7- year fraud alert available to confirmed victims of identity theft; requires a police report or FTC report
Fraud Alert – Free notice on credit reports that tells lenders to double-check your identity before approving new accounts
Identity Monitoring – A service that checks if your personal data is being misused or sold online
Imposter Scam – When someone pretends to be a trusted person or company to trick you into sending money or info
Initial Fraud Alert – A 1-year alert you can place if you think your information may be at risk, such as after a data breech
Passkey – A modern login method that replaces passwords with encrypted credentials tied to your device or biometrics
Password Manager – A tool that creates and stores strong, unique passwords for each account
Phishing – Fraudulent messages or links that trick you into sharing personal information
QR Code Scam – A fake QR code placed in public to trick people into visiting malicious websites or giving up information
SIM Swap Scam – When a scammer tricks your phone provider into switching your number to a new SIM card they control
Social Engineering – Manipulating people into revealing sensitive information through persuasion or trickery
Synthetic Identity Theft – Using a mix of real and fake information to create a new, false identity for financial gain
Tokenization – A security process that replaces sensitive info (like credit card numbers) with a useless placeholder
