PHILADELPHIA IDENTITY THEFT LAWYERS

Identity theft is defined as the possession or use of identifying information belonging to another person, without the consent of the other person, to obtain goods or services, or to portray themselves as that other person. Every possession or use of the identity of another person without their consent constitutes a separate offence.

Identity theft is a crime that involves fraud and can be prosecuted as a state or federal crime. Identity theft cases are detail-specific and are more and more often being grouped as internet crimes due to the increase use of computer hacking and other technologies.

Identity theft is considered a white-collar crime and the penalties for Identity Theft range widely in scope and form. Some of the offenses that are considered Identity Theft are::

• Credit card theft  – using someone else’s credit card
• Applying for credit cards under someone else’s name
• Using someone else’s identity to apply for government benefits
• Using someone else’s identity to apply for a loans you would not qualify for
• Stealing a driver’s license  for fraudulent purposes
• Check fraud
• Computer hacking
• Internet fraud
• Forgery

Depending upon the value of property or services obtained by a person committing Identity Theft the offense ranges from a 1^st degree misdemeanor to a 3^rd degree felony. Identity Theft will be charged as a 3^rd degree felony, if the offense was committed in order to further a criminal conspiracy. The third offense and all subsequent offenses of Identity Theft are charged as a 2nd degree felony.

People who under the age of twenty-one who have stolen and/or altered a driver’s license or identification card, to misrepresent their age, may be charged with misdemeanor.