ACFE Certified Fraud Examiner CFE Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Prep Guide

The statement indicating that the type of malware associated with identity theft is spyware is misleading. While spyware is indeed a type of malware that can be used to collect personal information without a user’s knowledge, it is not the only form of malware associated with identity theft. Other types of malicious software, such as keyloggers and trojans, can also facilitate identity theft by capturing sensitive data like passwords, social security numbers, and banking information. Therefore, identifying spyware exclusively as the type associated with identity theft is inaccurate.

Understanding the other statements can help clarify why they are true. Solicitations for pre-approved credit cards serve as bait for identity thieves, as they often acquire this information to open new accounts in the victim’s name. The practice of impersonating the victim's bank is common among identity thieves seeking more sensitive or financial information. Additionally, changing a victim's mailing address is a well-known tactic used to divert correspondence and conceal illicit activity, allowing thieves to manage fraud without detection.

Together, these points illustrate the broad scope of tactics employed in identity theft, while also highlighting the limitations of categorizing specific types of malware as definitive.