We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Different Types of Criminal Identity Theft?

Nicole Madison
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,835
Share

Identity theft is an act in which a person or organization uses another person's identifying information to commit various types of fraud. One form of this fraud is called criminal identity theft, which occurs when a person steals another party's identity and gives the victim's name to law enforcement officials. There are basically two types of criminal identity theft. A criminal may commit this crime by giving a law enforcement official the victim's name and other identifying information, or he may provide an ID with the victim's name on it.

For one type of criminal identity theft, the criminal may be arrested by a law enforcement official and decide to give the identity theft victim's name and other identifying information instead of his own. For example, he may provide the victim's name, social security number, and even his driver's license number in order to avoid being prosecuted in his own name. A criminal may impersonate his victim for everything from a traffic violation to a murder charge. Oftentimes, the impersonator is sometimes a person who knows the victim well, such as a friend or family member.

Another type of criminal identity theft involves the creation of a fake ID. In some cases, a criminal may create a fake ID for the purpose of impersonating the victim. In other cases, however, a criminal may gain access to the victim's private documents and use them to obtain an official ID in the victim's name. For example, he may obtain a state identification form or even a driver's license or passport. When he is arrested or otherwise gets into trouble with the law, he may present this documentation to law enforcement officials.

In some cases, an identity theft criminal may show up for court and serve any time that he is sentenced; he may also pay any fines the court sets. In other cases, however, the criminal doesn't show up for court, and the judge issues a bench warrant for his arrest. Either way, this sort of theft is a major problem for the victim. Typically, a victim of this sort of fraud is completely unaware that anyone has stolen his identity and is one day surprised to be arrested and taken to face a judge because the real criminal didn't show up for court. If the criminal did show up, however, the victim may eventually face the surprise that he has a criminal record for a crime he didn't commit.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Nicole Madison
By Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison's love for learning inspires her work as a WiseGeek writer, where she focuses on topics like homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. Her passion for knowledge is evident in the well-researched and informative articles she authors. As a mother of four, Nicole balances work with quality family time activities such as reading, camping, and beach trips.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison's love for learning inspires her work as a WiseGeek writer, where she focuses on topics like...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-different-types-of-criminal-identity-theft.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.