Rather than stealing your complete identity, criminals build entirely new fake identities using pieces of real information.

**How synthetic identities are built:** 1. Obtain a real Social Security Number (often from children, deceased, or immigrants) 2. Combine with fake name, address, and date of birth 3. Apply for credit — initial denials actually CREATE a credit file 4. Gradually build credit history with secured cards and authorized user status 5. Eventually obtain larger credit lines 6. "Bust out" — max all credit and disappear

**Why it's hard to detect:** - Not a complete identity theft — no real victim initially complains - Builds legitimate-looking credit history over months/years - Real SSN passes basic verification checks - AI now generates realistic supporting documents

**Who gets hurt:** - Children don't discover until they apply for student loans - Elderly victims may never know - Immigrants may have difficulty building legitimate credit later - Banks absorb massive losses - Eventually linked to real SSN owner's credit report