People talk about “identity theft” as though it were a single criminal act, one with a consistent type of victim, a consistent type of criminal, and consistent repercussions. However, identity theft is vast and varied; there are in fact multiple different types of identity theft that can affect victims’ lives in multiple different ways. As experienced criminal attorneys in Mid-Missouri, we can defend against charges for all types of identity theft. Keep reading to learn more about what some of the different types are.
Financial Identity Theft
This is perhaps the most commonly known and recognized form of identity theft. It occurs when a criminal obtains access to a victim’s sensitive financial information and uses it to gain control over the victim’s financial accounts. The most obvious option is for criminal to steal the victim’s money stored in the accounts. However, the criminal may also use financial information to gain control over retirement accounts or take out unauthorized loans in the victim’s name.
Driver’s License Identity Theft
When a criminal obtains access to a victim’s driver’s license information, he can use it for a number of different purposes. One option is to make copies of the license and sell them to anyone that fits the physical description provided on the ID. Another option is to use it for himself any time he gets pulled over for traffic convictions such as drunk driving or speeding. Because driver’s licenses are used as the standard form of ID any time identification is required, a criminal can use a stolen driver’s license to commit any number of different crimes. All of these crimes will go on the victim’s record. When the victim fails to appear in Court (because he did not commit or was even aware of the charges), he may face serious repercussions.
Employment Identity Theft
If a criminal has a personal history that would make it difficult to obtain employment, he may use stolen identification such as a social security number and driver’s license to apply for a job. When the employer conducts a background check, the criminal’s true history will remain hidden. If the criminal eventually commits a crime on the job, law enforcement may come looking for the victim of identity theft instead of the criminal.
Medical Identity Theft
Medical identity theft is a particularly serious form of identity theft. It occurs when a criminal uses a victim’s personal and medical information to seek treatment for an illness. This creates two primary repercussions on the victim’s life. On a relatively harmless note, it may use up his covered benefits and cause him to get stuck with bills for treatment he did not receive. The more serious repercussion is that it puts false information in the victim’s medical history, which can cause him to get improper, ineffective, or possibly even lethal prescriptions or treatment when he does seek medical care.
Deputy & Mizell Can Defend Against All Types Of Identity Theft Charges
These are a few common examples of identity theft, but it is by no means a comprehensive list. Other examples include:
- Child Identity Theft (stealing a young person’s identity)
- Criminal Identity Theft (using someone else’s personal information to commit a crime)
- Change of Address Fraud (diverting someone’s mail to a different address to obtain sensitive information)
- Creation of a New Person (combining multiple victims’ information to create an entirely new identity – also called Synthetic Identity Theft)
- Insurance Identity Theft (claiming someone else’s insurance benefits)
- Credit Card Identity Theft (using someone else’s credit card information to make unauthorized purchases)
If you are facing charges for identity theft, it is important to seek representation from a skilled criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible. Identity theft is typically classified as a felony, which means that those convicted of identity theft may face steep fine and multiple years in a federal prison. For more information about our criminal defense services in Lebanon MO, call 1-877-532-2191 to schedule your free consultation.
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