Types of Identity Theft

Financial: 

Using another’s information/identity in order to obtain credit, goods, or services.

Criminal:

Using another’s information/identity when apprehended for a crime;i.e.,a person stopped by law enforcement supplies another person’s name.

Governmental:

Supplying another’s information to a government agency;e.g.,giving another person’s information to the IRS.

Medical:

Receiving medical care or drugs using another person’s information or identity.

 EXAMPLES OF COMMON VICTIM IMPACT ISSUES

• Increased prevalence of ID theft crimes: 9.6 million new victims in 2010
• Time spent working to resolve the financial and credit problems by the victim
  •  20% of surveyed victims spent more than a month from the discovery of the ID theft trying to clear up the problems.
• Ongoing victimization
  • 3% of victims surveyed in the 2008 Identity Theft Supplement to the National Crime victimization Survey reported experiencing problems related to the theft more than 6 months after discovering it.
• Child identity theft a growing problem, especially among foster children
• Interfamilial/caregiver ID theft among elderly populations
• Lack of social support
  • Victim may suffer related mental distress w/out support
  • Victim may need assistance with paperwork requirements (e.g., sending in all documents by certified mail), but may not have anyone available to assist him
• Financial losses (62% of ID theft victims reported direct or indirect financial losses). 
  • No restitution under Idaho law
• 2 out of 10 ID theft victims rated the experience as “severely distressing”
• Not understanding their rights as victims in the criminal proceedings