Identity Thieves Targeting Children
Posted on September 29, 2008
Filed Under Criminal Law, Identity Theft, Law, News, Theft |
With the prevalence of identity theft, adults have become wary about providing personal information over the phone, on the internet and at stores. But few worry about someone stealing their children’s identity. Children don’t carry ID or have bank accounts or credit cards or jobs. They seem unlikely victims of identity thieves. But many American children do have social security numbers and that’s what thieves are after.
Between 2005 and 2007, more than 34,000 cases of identity theft among people under age 18 were reported to the Federal Trade Commission. “I think we just see the tip of the iceberg,” said Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego. “We don’t know how deep this problem goes.”
Unlike identity theft in the adult population which is generally discovered within a short period of time after the theft, in this young age group identity theft can go undiscovered for years, even decades. Exacerbating the problem is the fact that the thief is often a relative of the child. “In excess of 50% of all child ID theft involves a perpetrator who is one of the parents or someone who is close to the family,” Foley said.
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in California. Selling or transferring personal information to another person or using that information to obtain money or goods, including a driver’s license, job or medical care, is a crime. Under California identity theft law, a person can be charged with identity theft if the prosecutor proves all of the following:
- The individual willfully obtained another person’s identity information.
- The information was obtained without authorization.
- The information was used for any unlawful purpose.
Identity theft and the use of a stolen identity are both criminal acts that carry serious penalties. Depending on the seriousness and sophistication of the crime, the amount of monetary damage, and the defendant’s past record, identity theft can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony. Because the internet crosses state lines, internet theft of identity information or its use can be charged as a federal crime. If you are charged with identity theft, an experienced criminal defense attorney can explain your defense options and may be able to help you avoid jail through alternative sentencing.
-LegalPro
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