VANCOUVER, BC — As the global economy becomes increasingly digitized and interconnected, a silent but devastating crime is rapidly expanding: synthetic identity fraud. Unlike traditional identity theft, which targets real people, synthetic identity fraud involves the creation of entirely new — and altogether fake — personas, crafted from real and fictitious information.
This evolving form of financial crime now represents the fastest-growing type of identity fraud globally, affecting banks, governments, healthcare systems, and individuals in nearly every country.
According to the Federal Reserve and global fraud monitoring agencies, losses from synthetic identity fraud exceeded $20 billion USD in 2024 alone, and projections for 2025 are already trending higher. The rising sophistication of criminal networks and outdated detection tools has allowed this fraud to quietly undermine financial systems worldwide.
Amicus International Consulting, a leader in legal identity management and digital security solutions, is raising public awareness of the threat and offering proactive tools for individuals, institutions, and governments to protect themselves.
What Is Synthetic Identity Fraud?
Synthetic identity fraud occurs when a criminal creates a new identity by combining:
- A real Social Security Number or National ID (often stolen or from a child or deceased individual)
- A fake name, date of birth, or address
- Falsified documents or purchased credentials (utility bills, employment records, tax filings)
These “synthetic identities” are then used to:
- Apply for credit cards or loans
- Open bank accounts and mobile wallets
- File fraudulent tax returns or unemployment claims
- Access healthcare services or government benefits
- Launder money or finance illicit activities
Unlike identity theft, synthetic fraud often flies under the radar because no single real person reports it. It can take months or years before institutions realize that the individual never existed in the first place.
Case Study 1: The Phantom Millionaire
In 2023, a criminal syndicate in the UAE used synthetic identities to establish over 200 bank accounts across five countries. By slowly building “credit profiles” for their fabricated personas, they secured over $12 million in loans, only to default. Lenders had no recourse because the identities were not tied to real people. The fraud was discovered only after one of the “individuals” failed a biometric check during a visa application in Singapore.
Why Synthetic ID Fraud Is So Dangerous
- Hard to Detect: Traditional fraud detection systems rely on alerts from victims. With synthetic IDS, no one exists to report suspicious activity.
- Long Incubation Periods: Criminals often spend months — even years — building synthetic credit histories to appear legitimate before executing large-scale fraud.
- Crosses Borders Easily: With global data leaks and weak ID verification protocols, synthetic identities can be used in multiple countries simultaneously.
- Exploits Children and the Deceased: Over 30% of synthetic fraud profiles use Social Security Numbers issued to minors or dead individuals, according to U.S. fraud reports.
Synthetic Fraud and Organized Crime
Petty criminals do not just use synthetic identities. Law enforcement has linked this form of fraud to:
- Human trafficking rings
- Drug cartels laundering funds
- Terrorist financing operations
- State-sponsored espionage actors creating fake personas
Case Study 2: The Healthcare Haul
A group operating in Europe used 75 synthetic identities to fraudulently enroll in national healthcare systems across France, Italy, and Germany. They received over €3 million in benefits, including prescription medications and surgical procedures, all billed to the state. Investigators discovered the fraud only after cross-referencing biometric inconsistencies across border controls.
The Role of Technology in Enabling Synthetic Fraud
New tools have allowed criminals to automate and scale synthetic ID creation:
- AI-generated photos that pass facial recognition tests
- Deepfake voice synthesis used in customer service calls
- Fake social media profiles to simulate identity longevity
- Dark web data bundles including names, SSNS, passwords, and transaction histories
Today’s synthetic identities include digital fingerprints that mimic normal online behaviour, including job applications, ride-sharing history, and streaming service usage, making detection even harder.
Case Study 3: The Biometric Workaround
In 2024, an attacker created a synthetic ID using a real SSN and deep fake facial imaging to register with a U.S. gig economy platform. The individual earned thousands of dollars in contractor income, transferred funds to offshore accounts, and disappeared, leaving regulators unable to trace any physical identity behind the account.
How Amicus International Consulting Helps Counter This Threat
Amicus International Consulting, based in Vancouver, works with individuals and institutions to mitigate the rising threat of synthetic identity fraud. Through its proprietary identity validation protocols, biometric verification systems, and legal identity change support, Amicus helps:
- Banks and lenders implement real-time identity verification
- Governments and embassies strengthen document authentication procedures
- Citizens protect their identity from cloning and unauthorized use
- Victims of identity-related fraud recover their records and clear their profiles
Amicus also offers consultation for individuals who legitimately need to change their identity, including whistleblowers, witnesses, and persecuted individuals, ensuring compliance with international law and safeguarding against synthetic misuse.
Quote from Amicus Spokesperson
“Synthetic identity fraud is the invisible epidemic of the digital economy,” said a spokesperson from Amicus International. “We must move beyond outdated security questions and leverage biometric, behavioural, and cross-platform verification to protect our financial and civic systems. If we fail to act, we risk allowing ghosts to infiltrate our most trusted institutions.”
What Can Be Done: A 5-Step Defence Framework
- Verify with Biometrics: Use facial, iris, or fingerprint recognition at all stages of account creation.
- Cross-reference Digital Footprints: Confirm social, behavioural, and historical consistency across platforms.
- Monitor Credit for Children and the Deceased: Institutions must flag credit activity tied to inactive identities.
- Strengthen KYC Protocols: “Know Your Customer” processes must include AI-detection of synthetic patterns.
- Raise Awareness: Consumers should be educated about the misuse of their information and the warning signs of being targeted.
Conclusion: Trust Must Be Rebuilt
As synthetic identity fraud continues to evolve, the need for modern, multilayered identity management becomes increasingly urgent. The line between real and artificial has blurred, but the solution lies in proactive, lawful, and verified identity controls.
Amicus International Consulting remains at the forefront of this global challenge, providing ethical, legal, and secure identity solutions to protect people and systems from exploitation.
📞 Contact Information
Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402
Email: info@amicusint.ca
Website: www.amicusint.ca
