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Pretexting is the practice by which personal information is obtained under false pretenses. It often takes place by telephone or via the Internet. For example, pretexting occurs when someone calls a credit card company, pretends to be a particular credit card holder, and obtains information about the true credit card holder’s account. It has been deemed both inappropriate and illegal according to the laws of the United States. The term is derived from the false “pretext” that is used to obtain personally identifying information. Individuals who participate in pretexting are known as “pretexters,” many of whom sell the illegally obtained information to others. This information may be used to obtain credit in someone else’s name or to investigate or sue a particular person. Pretexting is similar in many ways to identity theft in that it involves theft of personally identifying information. A variety of tactics are used by pretexters to obtain someone’s personal information. For example, it is common for a pretexter to call a person and claim to be asking questions on behalf of a survey firm. After obtaining the desired information, a pretexter then typically uses that information to obtain that person’s financial information, such as account numbers, credit card numbers, and so on. In this way, the pretexter can also acquire identification information such as work history and social security numbers.