In recent years, an increasing number of people have been charged with identity theft. When many people hear the words identity theft, they imagine someone stealing another person’s credit card information and using the details to make extravagant purchases, and this has been depicted in many popular movies. However, there are many other examples of identity theft, and it is important to draw attention to these cases, especially since a wide range of behaviors may constitute identity theft. Moreover, the consequences can be very serious, not only in terms of the financial penalties that may be imposed but in terms of one’s reputation and prison as well.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, some examples of identity theft include using accounts without authorization, using personal data for fraudulent purposes, and opening new accounts with information that one has not been authorized to use. Moreover, even attempting to use or open an account without authorization may also constitute identity theft. According to the BJS, over 17 million people in the U.S. were victims of identity theft in 2014, and millions more have experienced identity theft since then. This also means that many people have been charged with identity theft and these allegations carry serious repercussions.
Sometimes, identity theft cases can be complicated. For example, a former business partner or spouse may wrongly accuse someone of identity theft, or someone may be accused of this offense by a stranger even though they had nothing to do with the incident(s). It is important to uncover all relevant details if you are charged with this offense.