What You Need to Know About Hybrid Identity Fraud

One of the fastest growing forms of identity theft is one you might not have heard of yet: hybrid identity fraud. Hybrid identity fraud is a growing and dangerous form of identity theft that combines real and fake personal information to create a synthetic identity.

Criminals use these fabricated identities to open credit accounts, apply for loans, or commit other types of financial fraud. Because the identity is partly real and partly false, it can be difficult for both victims and institutions to detect—so we thought this a good time to address some frequently asked questions about the threat.

Q. What is hybrid identity fraud?

As noted, it occurs when a fraudster uses a real piece of personally identifiable information (like a Social Security number) and combines it with fake data (like a made-up name or address) to create a new, synthetic identity. In fact, it’s often called synthetic ID fraud.

Q. How do criminals get this information?

They often obtain real data through data breaches, phishing attacks, or the Dark Web. Children, seniors, and people with little credit history are common targets because their data is less likely to be monitored.

Q. Why is it hard to detect?

Unlike traditional identity theft, hybrid fraud doesn’t immediately trigger alerts because no single person is being impersonated outright. The synthetic identity can build a credit profile over time, for example, making it seem legitimate.

Q. What damage can it cause?

Criminals use hybrid identities to rack up debt, commit tax fraud, and even engage in money laundering. The real person whose data was used may suffer long-term credit damage or find themselves wrongly connected to fraudulent activity.

Q. How can I protect myself?

Monitor your credit reports regularly, freeze your credit if you’re not actively using it, and be cautious about sharing your personal information. Consider placing alerts with the major credit bureaus and using identity protection tools.