What Is Criminal Identity Theft? How It Differs From Identity Theft?

When you speak of identity theft, your mind conjures a picture where somebody else is using your name doing something that would affect you eventually. It could be using your credit cards, withdrawing money from the bank, sending an email from you account, committing accidents in your name, getting arrested in your name, and so on. Identity theft is when you do something behind the scenes, in someone else's name. The identity theft changes over to criminal identity theft when a person says is someone else when arrested or accosted by a police officer. In other words, the moment the person in question gives another identity (other than his/her own) to a law officer that person commits criminal identity theft. If that person has on him or her your identifying documents such as driver's license, credit cards, social security card, etc, that person can indeed be recognized as you. Often such a dual life can go on for a very long time, without you ever discovering that you have an alter-ago somewhere in this world who uses your name and identity to live.

When The Identify Theft Becomes Criminal Identity Theft?

Often such a situation becomes known only when the person does something drastic that involves the law, i.e. you learn about it only when it becomes a criminal identity theft and you are sought out for explanation or in worse cases for arrest, by the law. At that time, it would be extremely traumatic and difficult to defend yourself. Other times when you could find out that you are a victim of criminal identity theft is when your bank loan is rejected on account of bad credit or you fail to get a job on account of your police record, or you find you have outstanding warrants in your name and so on.

Unfortunately, the onus of proving that the criminal identity theft took place lies with the victim. This is a mammoth effort, which often takes years to set right, not to mention the money spent and mental trauma that such an experience causes. If you suspect you are a victim of criminal identity theft, you should immediately take precautions, inform the local law enforcement authorities about your doubts, and submit whatever proof you have to support it. Make it a point to file an impersonation report at the earliest possible, as this could help you in restoring your identity.