Final answer:
William is a victim of identity theft, a crime where personal information is used without permission, often leading to financial loss and damaged trust in institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
William is a victim of identity theft. Identity theft, also known as "True-name Fraud," is when someone wrongfully acquires a consumer's personal identification, credit, or account information such as a social security number, pin number, or password without their permission. This illegally acquired information is then used to commit fraud, leading to financial losses and a breach of trust in institutions such as banks and governments.
Identity theft often results in thieves draining savings accounts or incurring significant credit card debts by purchasing high-value items. Victims of identity theft also suffer from the loss of trust in financial and governmental institutions, further compounding the impact of the crime. It is important to monitor financial statements and accounts regularly for any unauthorized transactions or changes that may indicate identity theft