Identity Theft

Identity theft and identity fraud are terms applied to crimes in which someone steals and uses another person’s personal information such as his or her name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, medical or health insurance member number, birth certificate, death certificate, passport number, driver’s license number, [Page 491]student identification number, credit or bank account numbers, passwords (e.g., mother’s maiden name), or biometric data (e.g., fingerprints) to facilitate other unlawful activities. The information is typically used for fraudulent or deceptive purposes and for financial gain. The criminal activities associated with identity thefts can negatively affect a victim’s credit status and require the victim to expend time and financial resources in order to restore his or her credit standing and perhaps his or her reputation. ...