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Although it may seem easy enough to apply for a social security number or drivers license for a name stolen from existing information, officials are finding it easier to track offenders through the increasing implementation of new software security systems. Consumer awareness is another reason that more perpetrators are getting caught, so beware of trying to steal someones identity for the purposes of self-enrichment or easement.
Technology is Helping
Virtual storage on many home-computing programs allows users to keep important documents on file for years at a time. Theres no need for homeowners to look up important insurance information at the bottom of a cardboard box in the depths of the basement.
Now they just sit at their computer monitor, click a few keys, and the record is called up, ready for copying and checking by financial officials. Nowadays, more people are monitoring their credit reports through the major agencies, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, making it easier to spot a problem if trouble should occur.
The Punishment
Those who get caught filling out applications in someone elses name, opening department store or utility accounts using another persons data, or attempting to steal and use information like a social security number, birth certificate, employer ID number, and other kinds of identifying information may face state or federal charges, depending on how the information was used. Each state has its own method for punishing identity fraud, although many systems are similar.
One of the most common consequences involves the giving of a $1,000 fine or a year in jail. But fines can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, and jail time takes many forms, depending on the nature of the theft and the region in which it occurs. Often considered a misdemeanor, this white-collar crime and its punishment extends to those who help to harbor, shelter, or are involved in collusion with those who actively take advantage of others.
In addition to government prosecution, victims can sue perpetrators via civil litigation for non-compliance with state-ordered document production, in the amount of $100 per day, plus legal fees.
As this type of theft continues to escalate, so do attempts to find and punish it by victims, local law enforcement agencies, and state as well as federal governments.
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