This legislation will serve as an effective deterrent to those considering using another's identity for their own purposes. House Bill 373 establishes the offense of identity fraud as the intent to unlawfully, and without permission, appropriate the identity of another person. In today's electronic age, it is easy for criminals to access personal information and use it for fraudulent reasons before the victim has any idea what has happened. The consequences can be tragic for families and individuals whose finances and reputations are never fully restored.
Identity fraud destroys a lifetime of hard work and good credit.
Attorney General Earley has produced a 20-page booklet, How To Avoid Identity Theft and A Guide For Victims of Identity Theft .