What is a common motivation for someone committing identity theft online?

The primary motivation for someone committing identity theft online often revolves around the intent to commit fraud. Identity theft can involve stealing someone's personal information—such as Social Security numbers, credit card details, or bank account information—with the goal of using that information to make unauthorized purchases, obtain credit, or engage in other fraudulent activities that benefit the thief financially.

In many cases, identity thieves assume the identities of their victims to carry out these frauds, leveraging stolen information to bypass security measures that would typically protect the victim. This motivation is financially driven and seeks to exploit the victim's assets or creditworthiness without their knowledge or consent.

While options like acquiring personal information for social networking or cultivating friendships may involve obtaining personal details, they do not carry the same illicit intent or potential for harm as fraud does. Similarly, improving financial literacy does not relate to identity theft as it implies a focus on education rather than deceitful exploitation.