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Identity Theft, or Fraud, is the Fastest Growing Crime in California.
Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, driver’s license number, account numbers, passwords or other personal identification information, without authority, and falsely poses as another person to commit fraud and gain access to the other person’s finances.
This also includes selling or transferring personal information to another person to obtain money or goods.
Identity theft crime charges include:
Internet identity theft:
- Internet or computer purchases using another person’s credit card
- Credit card theft: Applying for a credit card (access card) or making purchases
- Bank/credit card identity theft: Applying for a mortgage, other loan, or bank account
- Counterfeit or altered credit cards, driver’s license, or official records (medical, marriage)
- Forgery of signature on documents such as a check or debit card purchase
- Publishing account numbers
California Identity Theft Law
Under the California Identity Theft Law covered in section 530.5 of the Penal Code, a person charged with identity theft can be convicted if the prosecutor proves all of the following:
- A person willfully obtained personal identifying information of another person;
- The information was obtained without authorization;
- The information was used for any unlawful purpose, including obtaining credit, goods, services, or medical records in the victim's name and without the victim's consent.
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