Has Your Identity Been Stolen
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Send to a friend by YMAuthor: Matthew Candelaria
When we buy something online or put in our personal information for whatever reason, we are left wondering if someone on the other end of the country is collecting our information to use for their own financial gain.
Identity theft is a crime that no one really even heard that much about until the popularity of the Internet skyrocketed. Now when we buy something online or put in our personal information for whatever reason, we are left wondering if someone on the other end of the country is collecting our information to use for their own financial gain.
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number, address or mother’s maiden name without your permission to commit fraud, theft or some other crime.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft (and may not even be aware of it yet!). This crime takes many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. You may not even find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you did not make—or until you are contacted by a debt collector.
Identify theft is a very serious crime; it is a felony and can be punished by huge fines and lengthy prison sentence. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record. Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.
How Can My Identity Be Stolen Without Me Knowing It?
The whole crime starts with the misuse of your personal information after it is “stolen,” usually from your mail or by a hacker getting the information after you put it on the Internet. Skilled identity thieves get your information in many different ways including:
- Going through trash rummaging for bills or other important papers that have your information.
- “Skimming” is where thieves steal your credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
- “Phishing” is when thieves pretend to be banks or other financial institutions and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
- Change of address forms are used by thieves who may create a post office box to start getting your mail without you even knowing it.
- Stealing wallets, purses, breaking in to cars, houses, etc. (The old-fashioned way of stealing!)
- Pretexting- Thieves use false pretences to obtain your information from banks, telephone companies, etc.
Once identity thieves have your personal information, they may open up new credit card accounts in your name, not pay the bills, of course, and then the delinquent accounts appear on your credit report, ruining your credit. Thieves may also change the billing address on your card so you no longer receive the bills, again, causing you to be delinquent. Thieves may open new wireless phone accounts in your name and run up the bills, or they may use your information to get utilities established such as cable, phone, electricity, and water.
If you are worried that your identity may have been stolen, you must report this immediately to the police and all of your credit card companies, banks, etc.
With all these possible penalties, increasing at every turn, it only makes sense to consult a DUI defense lawyer if you are arrested on suspicion of this offense and have your questions answered. An experienced lawyer knows the best ways to approach your case to avoid conviction or diminish sentencing.
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