As you sit in the courtroom, listening to the charges against you, you can’t help but think about how you ended up in this situation. You’re being accused of identity theft.
Identity theft is when someone deliberately uses someone else’s personal information without their permission. This is done to commit fraud or other crimes.
4 points to consider when charged with identity theft
There are four general elements that must be present for a person to be charged with identity theft. These include:
- Personal Identifying Information: The accused must have obtained or used someone else’s personal identifying information, such as their name, social security number, date of birth, address or other unique identifiers.
- Without consent: The accused must have obtained or used the information without the knowledge or permission of the victim.
- Intent to deceive or defraud: The accused must have had the intention to deceive or defraud the victim or a third party. This means using the stolen information for fraudulent purposes, such as accessing financial accounts, obtaining credit or gaining access to services.
- Fraudulent or unlawful activity: The accused must have engaged in fraudulent or unlawful activities using stolen information. Examples include making unauthorized transactions, opening new accounts or obtaining government benefits under the victim’s identity.
Once you know you’re facing identity theft charges, you must ensure you learn the options for your defense strategy. Doing this quickly once you find out you’re facing charges is a good idea because you shouldn’t depend on a rushed strategy when you’re up against serious charges. Working with someone who’s familiar with these matters may be beneficial since you can discuss the possibilities with them.
