Some victims of identity theft become hyper-vigilant and find it hard to trust anyone. Others feel angry, vulnerable, helpless, or violated. These feelings can be heightened by the struggle to correct records, clear names, and bring perpetrators to justice, as well as by repeated encounters with debt collectors and fears of lawsuits and garnished wages. States that have no specific identity-theft legislation may have other laws prohibiting the criminal behavior of identity thieves. Under the 1998 Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, identity theft became a federal offense.
Identity theft is time-consuming and difficult to investigate.
When victims seek to make a report, it may be unclear which jurisdiction is responsible for the investigation. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors may be unfamiliar with relevant laws. Arrests and prosecutions for identity theft are rare. For example, in San Diego, only 50 out of 783 reported cases resulted in an arrest in 1999. Even when prosecutions proceed, victims may have no rights to be notified of court hearings, submit victim impact statements, or apply for compensation.