Identity Theft

In October 2011, Idaho Legal Aid Services (ILAS) was awarded funds to form the Idaho Coalition Against Identity Theft (ICAIT) to serve Idaho identity theft victims. The Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center awarded ILAS funds from the U.S.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, Social Security number, date of birth, or other identifying information, without authority, to commit fraud. For example, someone may have committed identity theft by using your personal information to open a credit card account or get a loan in your name. For more information, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft or write to: FTC, Consumer Response Center, Room 130-B, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C., 20580.

In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, change service providers for your cell phone, or apply for a credit card. Chances are you don’t give these everyday transactions a second thought. But an identity thief does.

Identity theft is a serious and rapidly growing problem. In 2004 the Federal Trade Commission received 600 identity theft complaints from Idaho victims. This is up from 493 victims in 2003 and 361 victims in 2002. Credit card theft was the number one identity theft type reported by Idaho victims. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of becoming a victim. You can protect yourself by understanding how identity theft is perpetrated, by understanding your rights and by making informed and intelligent decisions.

Identity theft is when someone uses your personal information without your permission to obtain goods, services, or money. Your personal information includes: your name, address, social security number, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, mother’s maiden name, or other identifying information. Identity theft is a crime. Idaho Code 18-3126 governs identity theft and states that if the value of loss due to identity theft exceeds $300, then the theft is considered a felony. The punishment for felony identity theft is 5 years in prison and / or a $50,000 fine.

A voluntary form for filing a report with law enforcement and disputes with credit reporting agencies and creditors about identity theft-related problems. Visit ftc.gov/idtheft to use a secure online version that you can print for your records.