Criminal Identity Theft
What is "criminal identity theft"?
Criminal identity theft is when somebody poses as you, and they actually commit crimes as you. Unfortunately, because the driver's license is so easy to compromise, somebody can get a job as you. They can drive as you. For example, when a convicted felon gets out of jail; they've already soiled their own good name. If someone does a background check on them, it's going to be very difficult for them to get a job. So the next best thing for them is to actually steal your identity and then get a job as you. Once they get a job as you, let's say they get a job at a local pharmacy stocking shelves for six/eight/ten bucks an hour, and as they're working there they see a position for manager available. Then, they get that job as manager. The next thing you know, they have access to the alarm system, access to the safe, and access to order more pharmaceuticals. After a period of time, they'll rob the place, and steal the pharmaceuticals. They skip town. Now, they've been working as you. Who is law enforcement looking for now? They're looking for you because of crimes that the identity thief committed as you under your name.
How can a criminal identity thief steal my personal information?
A criminal identity thief is going to steal your information very similar to the way a financial identity thief is gonna steal your information. They might go in your trash, they may be in contract and working for you, they go into your home, they go to your filing cabinets, they go to your computer, they go to your desk and they steal whatever documentation they need and they go out and they start opening up ID's or account's under your name.
Under what circumstances and how might a criminal identity thief impersonate me?
What are the consequences of criminal identity theft?
The unfortuante consequence of criminal identity theft is that you could be sleeping at two o'clock in the morning and law enforcement can literally bang down your door and pull you out of bed and arrest you for the crimes of an identity thief. I can tell you too many stories where mom and dad are home cooking dinner, there's a knock at the door, there's law enforcement. They arrest the housewife for crimes of an identity thief and she spends a week in jail having to prove her innocence. Identity theft is the only crime that I can think of where you are guilty and you have to prove your innocence.
How can I protect myself against criminal identity theft?
When a criminal commits a crime under your name, law enforcement can only go on the information that has been given to them. If it's your name that they believe is attached to a particular criminal act, then you're the one they're coming after, and that's it. You have to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are not the person to commit that crime, that your identity had been compromised. In too many situations, that's not an easy task to do. That's why it's very important to have some form of an emergency identity theft kit available at all times.
What should I do if I am accused of committing a crime as a result of criminal identity theft?
In the event that you are arrested for crimes that you did not commit, that you believe was done as a result of your identity being compromised, it's always important to trace back your own steps, to determine if in fact your identity has been compromised. Look for things that have been out of place such as phone calls you might have received. If your wallet or purse was lost or stolen, make sure you report that to the authorities. Make sure you have alibis for all the different times or places that these crimes may have been committed.
