Under identity crimes, what is considered fraudulent use of identifying information?

The fraudulent use of identifying information primarily involves the utilization of another individual's personal data without their consent. This encompasses activities where sensitive information, such as social security numbers, bank account details, or other personally identifiable information, is used for deception or gain. By emphasizing that this action is performed without the consumer's knowledge or agreement, it underscores the breach of trust and violation of privacy rights inherent in identity crimes.

Other options reflect different contexts related to personal information but do not fit the definition of fraudulent use. Using information for credit checks can be legitimate if proper consent is obtained. Collecting information for statistical analysis does not imply misuse as it typically follows ethical guidelines and sometimes legal regulations. Filing unauthorized tax returns, while also unethical, typically falls under a specific type of fraud known as tax fraud, rather than the broader definition of identity theft often focused on unauthorized use of identifying information.