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Synthetic identity theft and fraud

Reduce exposure to identity fraud through early detection.

Quickly and accurately pinpoint false identities not associated with an actual person and decrease fraud losses due to credit card charge offs

Improve and execute:

Multi-layered approaches

Targeted treatments

Better customer experiences

What is synthetic identity theft?

Synthetic identities are made to look like real customers with good credit scores and histories, but are fabricated by fraudsters to perpetrate fraud. These identities are generally based on a Social Security number (SSN), or a credit privacy number (CPN). They are made up of blended information which combines real and fake data such as an address from one person mixed with another’s SSN or CPN. Synthetic identity theft is often difficult to spot because there is not a victim reporting the activity right away because of the nature of how they are created. The rise of this identity fraud is likely due to factors such as: widespread data breaches, dark web data access and availability, EVM card enhancements, and the competitive lending landscape, which values customer experience to the point where it creates gaps in identity fraud management processes.

What are the types of synthetic identities?

There are three ways in which fraudsters create synthetic identities: building a fraudulent credit profile over time through applications and inquiries, gaining access to legitimate accounts and using authorized user addition processes, and creating false credit reporting agency updates through organized and illegitimate data furnishing processes.

How can you prevent synthetic identity fraud in your portfolio?

  • Use segmentation analysis to identify your current and future exposure risks
  • Create alerts that notify your staff if data in an account seems suspicious
  • Differentiate identities associated with fraud and those based on bad data
  • Meet best practices by reviewing identity screening procedures
  • Reach a single customer view for your account holders across channels
Common Synthetic ID Fraud Industries

Synthetic identity fraud is a multibillion-dollar problem.

Read IDC's perspective paper on the effects of SID on banks and how Experian's Sure Profile can help.

Synthetic Identities: getting real with customers.

Download this White Paper to learn more about this growing problem and steps to find and prevent synthetic identity fraud.

Download Synthetic Fraud Whitepaper
  • Lower operational costs through a reduction in false positives, referrals, and manual reviews.
  • Reduce fraud losses associated with synthetic identity attacks.
  • Leverage powerful credit data and analytics capabilities to show early warning signs.
  • Automate synthetic id detection rules to evaluate a variety of behaviors over time.
  • Ensure your synthetic identity detection processes are future-proof with our scalable solutions.
  • Flag consumers who display fraudulent synthetic identity behavior through powerful high-risk fraud scoring models.

How we can help

CrossCore® fraud prevention platform

Fraud detection platform with synthetic ID high risk score, incorporates the history and past relationships between individuals to detect anomalies.

FraudNet device intelligence

Digital device intelligence to perform link analyses to connect identities that seem otherwise separate.

Synthetic identity risk mitigation services

Synthetic identity risk mitigation services, working with trusted and experienced Experian advisors to execute new and customized strategies.

Sure Profile

Experience the future of underwriting with greater confidence in your application approvals and minimized portfolio risk with this enhanced credit profile.

Get more information about our Business Services.

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