Identity theft is a serious white-collar crime that can have profound consequences for the sufferer of the crime, both financially and emotionally. In the United States, identity theft is classified as a federal crime, with violators subject to strict penalties set out in the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act and a range of other statutes. Today, we will explore the ins and outs of identity theft, detailing why it is a crime prosecuted with the utmost seriousness. If you have been charged with such a crime, do not wait to contact a criminal defense attorney to begin the process of establishing your defense.
Identity Theft 101
Federal law strictly prohibits the crime of stealing someone’s identity, such as in cases of interstate commerce, taxation, and other activities of federal institutions. Essentially, the law considers identity theft a fraud crime involving knowingly using another person’s identity for monetary gain or to commit a crime. According to the law, an individual can be found guilty of identity theft if they have knowingly transferred or used another person’s identity information, such as their social security number, driver’s license number, and more, in connection with fraudulent activities.
The most common form of identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s identity information to commit a financial-related crime. Because these crimes typically involve banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions, numerous federal statutes related to these institutions make them a shining example of a federal white-collar crime that is prosecuted aggressively.
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