Identity Theft
Laws and legal information about identity theft
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Identity Theft Overview
Research shows that between eight and nine million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Although the median financial loss is only about $500, some people lose far more. What Is Identity Theft?Identity theft occurs when a criminal uses the personal information of another person to commit fraud. The information that is stolen may include credit card information, bank account information and checks, as well as social security numbers and other identifying information. The criminal activity may include charging items to an existing account, establishing new accounts, renting an apartment or even committing a crime under the stolen identity. Read more
Supreme Court Decides What an Adverb Modifies
Guest CommentaryOn May 4th, the U.S. Supreme Court decided unanimously, in Flores-Figueroa v. United States, that the word "knowingly" modifies not only the verb, but also the direct object following the verb. In doing so, the Court also decided that illegal aliens cannot be found guilty of Aggravated Identity Theft unless they know their false identification numbers actually belong to someone else. Flores-Figueroa is a Mexican citizen who pled guilty to misuse of immigration documents and entering into the U.S. without inspection. Aggravated Identity Theft provides for two years to be added to the sentence of any such person if he "knowingly transfers, possesses or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person." 18 U.S.C. §1028A(a)(1). Read more