Identity theft is a term first emerging in U.S. literature circa 1996. The earliest internet references concern a lobby of the United States Federal Trade Commission for regulation concerning the criminal abuse of consumers' "means of identification".
Identity theft occurs so frequently that the Federal Bureau of Investigation cites it as "America's fastest growing crime problem". Thieves steal and fraudulently use the names, addresses, social security numbers, bank account information, credit card numbers and other personal information of some 10 million Americans each year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Learning about how thieves get your personal information is the first step toward protecting yourself from this devastating attack on your financial well-being.
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Report Suspicious Activity
Review your credit report at least once a year and contact your creditors immediately if you note suspicious activity. (For more information on how to do this, see Consumer Credit Report: What's on It.) If, at anytime, you suspect that an attempt has been made to steal your identity, contact the authorities. File a police report, and file a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, whom you can reach at 1-877-IDTHEFT.
Conclusion
Being the victim of identity theft can be extremely devastating not only because it's your money being stolen, but your name. Identity thieves can be very skilled at finding their targets and then exploiting their findings. For this reason, to protect yourself you need to stay all the more alert and knowledgeable.
United States Code
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 47 > § 1028
§ 1028.
Fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, authentication features, and information
(a) Whoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (c) of this section—
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(7) knowingly transfers, possesses, or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, or in connection with, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of Federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable State or local law;
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(c) The circumstance referred to in subsection (a) of this section is that—
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(3) either—
(A) the production, transfer, possession, or use prohibited by this section is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce, including the transfer of a document by electronic means;
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(7) the term “means of identification” means any name or number that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific individual, including any—
(A) name, social security number, date of birth, official State or government issued driver’s license or identification number, alien registration number, government passport number, employer or taxpayer identification number;
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(f) Attempt and Conspiracy.— Any person who attempts or conspires to commit any offense under this section shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense, the commission of which was the object of the attempt or conspiracy.
United States Code
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 73 > § 1512
§ 1512.
Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant
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(j) If the offense under this section occurs in connection with a trial of a criminal case, the maximum term of imprisonment which may be imposed for the offense shall be the higher of that otherwise provided by law or the maximum term that could have been imposed for any offense charged in such case.
(k) Whoever conspires to commit any offense under this section shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense the commission of which was the object of the conspiracy.
