Identity theft crime is becoming increasingly common all around the world. It is indeed becoming a very serious crime of all times, due to increasing reliability on technology. Therefore, it is important to take preventive measures for such crimes as soon as possible. As a matter of fact, a person’s financial credibility can be totally ruined as a result of this crime. The most devastating part of this crime is that the victim doesn’t get any idea what’s going on with him for a very long time. There are many ways that theft identity criminals choose to make their plans successful, and digging out the trash is one of the most common methods of all. You can learn more about it by reading the following lifelock reviews.
The information that criminals focus includes the name, date of birth and personal address details of the targeted individuals. Once these criminals get what they are looking for, they start applying for bank accounts and credit cards to accumulate debt in someone else’s name. Most people do not know what’s happening with them until the damage has already been done. Once the mishap happens, the victim find himself in great trouble.
Is Punishment Harsh Enough?
Earlier, the punishment for identity theft was not serious. Criminals used to just get a bashing and left free to commit another crime. However, the punishments have become harsher in the last decade. Depending upon the severity of the crime, the criminal can face up to 25 years of prison. Let’s take an insight view of such punishments as per federal and state laws.
Federal Penalties
The 2004 a separate legislation was created to take charge of identity thieves and accountable for their actions. As per recent laws, a person involved in the theft can now be additionally convicted of aggravated identity theft. This clearly states, that the thief may need to spend two extra years in the prison for using someone else’s identity without lawful authority.
Other felony violations in this crime include theft by a bank officer or employee, theft of public property, fraudulent use of Social Security, theft from employee benefits plans and Medicare benefits. Convicted under these charges can cause another five years in prison without any option of probation.
State Penalties
At the state level, punishments depend upon the severity of the details of each particular case. Identity thieves can face penalties on the form of fine or a misdemeanor charge. The jail time and costly fines are repercussions of severe cases.
Generally, the convicted person is asked to repay the entire amount to the victim, along with a fine of whooping $100,000 as criminal’s repayment amount.
As a matter of fact, a thief cannot be convicted unless he gets caught for this act. It is important to keep yourself aware of things happening around you. Even a small hint can help you identify the abnormal situations around you. Keeps a close check on the transactions taking place in your bank and credit account that may not be supposed to be there. Never throw away your important documents in the trash without destroying them completely. This will help prevent such thefts from taking place.
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