Identity Theft

Identity theft has been classified as the fastest-growing financial crime in the United States. The birth of the Internet has facilitated the proliferation of identity theft and the ease with which personal information, the scope of which historically had not been so readily available, can be obtained. With access to this abundance of personal information, an individual, or a group, can engage in a wide range of criminal activity with little chance of detection. Apprehension of thieves is made even more difficult by the fact that the crime is not bound by national borders, leading to potential jurisdictional difficulties in prosecution.

Identity theft, as defined by federal law, and as specifically stated in 18 U.S.C.§1028(a)(7), occurs when an individual knowingly transfers, possesses, or uses, without lawful ...