§ 1028), credit card fraud (18 U.S.C. In the fall of 1998, for example, Congress passed the Schemes to commit identity theft or fraud may also involve violations of other statutes such as identification fraud (18 U.S.C. Please enable JavaScript in your web browser; otherwise some parts of this site might not work properly. What's the Department of Justice Doing About Identity Theft and Fraud? This legislation created a new offense of identity theft, which prohibits "knowingly transfer[ring] or us[ing], without … For example:A fraud alert is free. You may also report specific types of identity theft to other federal agencies.You can also report the theft to other organizations, such as:Credit Reporting Agencies - Contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies to place fraud alerts or Financial Institutions - Contact the fraud department at your bank, credit card issuers and any other places where you have accounts. In 1998, Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, which officially made identity theft a federal crime. Create an account on the website to:Receive prefilled form letters to send to creditorsIf you don't create an account, you won't be able to access the report or letters later. § 1343), or financial institution fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344). How to protect yourself against identity theft and respond if it happens.Identity (ID) theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud.The identity thief may use your information to fraudulently apply for credit, file taxes, or get medical services. Make note of any account or transaction you don’t recognize. Keep these tips in mind to protect yourself from identity theft:If you report identity theft to the FTC online, you will receive an identity theft report and a recovery plan.
Under the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, it is a federal crime when a person "knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of Federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable State or local law." You could be a victim if you receive:Children and seniors are both vulnerable to ID theft. Identity theft Currently there is no standard definition of identity theft in the world. Ask a real person any government-related question for free.

An official website of the United States governmentIdentity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.With enough identifying information about an individual, a criminal can take over that individual's identity to conduct a wide range of crimes. Seniors often share their personal information with doctors and caregivers. This will help you report the theft to the FTC and the police.Based on the information you enter, IdentityTheft.gov will create your Identity Theft Report and personal recovery plan.The Department of Justice prosecutes cases of identity theft and fraud under a variety of federal statutes. The number of people and offices that access seniors' information put them at risk.There are several common types of identity theft that can affect you:Take steps to avoid being a victim of identity theft. Report identity (ID) theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. This Act states that identity theft occurs when a … It could be necessary if:The thief used your name in an interaction with the policeA creditor or another company requires you to provide a police report.
Medical identity theft happens when someone uses your name, Social Security number, insurance plan number, or other personal information to get:Take these steps to prevent medical identity theft: § 1029), computer fraud (18 U.S.C. USAGov is the Official Guide to Government Information and ServicesBilling Cycle: the number of days between statements on a regularly recurring bill.Security Feature: an app or setting on a wireless device that can help protect the device and the information on it from threats and vulnerabilities.Firewall: security monitoring software that analyzes and blocks or allows information traveling between the internet and your computer based on a defined set of security rules.Public WiFi Network: (WiFi hotspot) a network that anyone can use to connect to the internet or other networks.Virtual Private Network (VPN): a private network that connects your computer or mobile device to the internet and encrypts (codes) your information to protect your internet activity from monitoring or spying.Virus Detection Software: (antivirus software) a computer program used to prevent, detect, and remove malicious programs that have been placed on your computer to spy on you or to do damage to your computer.Credit Report: a report that shows your bill payment history, current debt, and other financial information. If you report identity theft by phone, the FTC will collect the details of your situation.