Identity theft is the act of obtaining another person’s identity and private information through illegal means. Personal and economic data of the victim is usually obtained through force or deceptive techniques. Using another person’s identity is illegal in most states, and could have severe consequences.
Social Security numbers, PIN codes and credit history are important pieces of information used in identity theft. Government or other financial organizations are sometimes responsible for the data leak, which leads to identity theft. Other ways to obtain private information are stealing another person’s mail, wallet or credit card. These days, cyber crime is also being used to facilitate identity theft. This is a lot safer than other forms of identity theft because financial transactions can be made without leaving behind any proof.
Federal identity theft laws are in place to punish the offenders. Being convicted of identity theft could lead to hefty fines, restitution or incarceration. The sentence depends on the manner in which the crime was committed, the amount of money involved, and other consequences of the crime.
Being charged with identity theft can have serious ramifications. Even though it seems like it does not cause a lot of harm, identity theft may be linked to other very serious crimes. You could be implicated in one of those crimes if you do not act quickly and hire an experienced defense attorney. Remember that you are innocent until proven guilty, and your attorney will fight against the charges and help make sure your rights are protected.
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