What Exactly Is Identity Theft? | New York Criminal Law Attorney Blog
Identity theft occurs when a person comes into possession of information, like a bank account or a Social Security number, through fraudulent, deceptive or unauthorized means and then uses that information in an effort to get access to benefits like credit.
Identity theft is typically divided into the following categories:
- Criminal
- Financial
- Medical
- Identity cloning
- Child
False identity theft occurs when a person uses their own information to make purchases or extend credit and then attempts to file a false claim. And sometimes this occurs when one might not even intend for it.
For example, in a recent case, a man inadvertently became his own identity thief when he made a number of large, routine purchases online, and in a couple of different states. This action appeared suspect to his bank, caused the financial institution to overreact and close his account. The end result was a significant drop in his credit rating - all because his bank thought he was an identity thief.
Related resource: The United States Department of Justice, "What Are Identity Theft and Identity Fraud?"
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