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Shabana Jumagul English 1010- 105 Instructor: Jeffery Greenwell 01 May, 2014 Identity Theft Here is a direct story from the IRS website On September 24, 2013, in Tampa, Florida. Maurice J. Larry was sentenced to 174 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $2,240,096. He pleaded guilty on April 11, 2013 to wire fraud and identity theft charges. Larry will serve this sentence concurrently with his sentence from another unrelated tax fraud case in which he received 101 months in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States Treasury through tax fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Larry and his co-conspirator, Rashia Wilson, engaged in a scheme to defraud the IRS by negotiating fraudulently obtained tax refunds. They did so by receiving U.S. Treasury checks and pre-paid debit cards that were loaded with proceeds derived from filing false and fraudulent federal income tax returns in other persons' names, without those persons permission or knowledge. Larry and Wilson filed these false and fraudulent federal income tax returns from multiple locations, including Wilson's residence and hotels in the Tampa area. Wilson, Larry, and others then used these fraudulently obtained tax refunds to make hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of retail purchases, to purchase money orders, and to withdraw cash. During the course of the investigation, agents searched Wilson's residence and Larry's storage unit. They recovered thousands of names and social security numbers found in ledgers and various other records. Additional reloadable debit cards loaded with fraudulent tax refunds were also found in both locations. Rashia Wilson was sentenced on July 16, 2013, to 234 months in prison.

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(Examples of Identity Theft Schemes). This is only one story there are million more stories which has been filed this was one of them. My research paper is about identity theft and the problems it causes to the victims. Identity theft effects more than twenty million people every year all around the globe. This topic is researched and tracked but no one really looks closely at it until they have been affected or know someone who has been affected by it. This paper will look at the cause and effect of identity theft and how identity theft happens, the criminal penalties of committing identity fraud and what steps you can take to prevent identity theft. Identity theft is a serious problem for anyone, and can affect someone for the rest of his or her life. According to the Federal Trade Commission Identity theft happens when someone Steals your personal information and use it without your permission. It is a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history, and reputation- and can take time, money, and patience to resolve. (Consumer Information). Identity theft is a major issue that has caused millions of dollars of loss. Every day one new victim falls into the identity theft list. There are numerous arguments on this topic, and many people are unaware of this situation. The government has released their privacy act to protect an individuals information from getting stolen, but is it really working? Unlike your fingerprints, which are unique to you and cannot be given to someone else for their use, your personal data especially Social Security number, your bank account or credit card number, your telephone calling card number, and other valuable identifying data. These can be used, if they fall into the wrong hands, to personally profit at your expense. Not disposing of this information correctly or giving this information out to others can cause identity theft. The United Stated Justice Department claims, In the United States and Canada, many people have

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reported that unauthorized persons have taken funds out of their bank or financial accounts, or, in the worst cases, taken over their identities altogether, running up vast debts and committing crimes while using the victims names. (Identity theft and Identity fraud). Someones whole life can be turned upside down within moments. Some of the effects that this can have include not only out-of-pocket financial losses, but also substantial additional financial costs associated with trying to restore their reputation in the community and correcting false information for which the criminal is responsible for creating. In one example I found: In one notorious case of identity theft, the criminal, a convicted felon, not only incurred more than $100,000 of credit card debt, obtained a federal loan, and bought homes, motorcycles, and handguns in the victims name, but called his victim to taunt him saying that he could continue to pose as the victim for as long as he wanted because identity theft was not a federal crime at that time before filing for bankruptcy, also in the victims name. (Justice). The effects of identity theft can be as simple as fraudulent credit charges to as numerous as then completing felony acts in your name. It is important to understand how this crime can occur so that individual can learn to protect themselves and their family. Some of the ways people can get your information are easy to remember and to avoid. Personal identification information should always be kept locked up, and if being thrown out should be shredded. For example, making sure to shred credit card even if you dont open them. Making sure you do not give Social Security numbers or dates of birth to strangers or even over unsecured networks. However, there are some ways people can access your information that you may not know. In public places, for example, criminals may engage in shoulder surfing (how criminal can hack our information). Which is watching you from a nearby locations as you punch in your telephone

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calling card number or credit-card number over the telephone to a hotel or rental care company. They may also dumpster dive looking for voided checks or paystubs. In recent years the Internet has become a huge database for gaining information. It is so important to make sure you are only giving out personal information to a secured network. The government has agencies created that do nothing but handle identity theft. Here are some of the penalties associated with this crime. In most circumstances, identity theft can carry a maximum term of fifteen years imprisonment, a fine, and criminal forfeiture of any personal property used or intended to be used to commit the offense. Schemes to commit identity theft or fraud may also involve violations of other statues such as identification fraud, credit card fraud, computer fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, or financial institution fraud. Each of these are considered federal offenses and are felonies that carry large penalties in some cases, and as high as thirty years of imprisonment. Federal prosecutors work with federal investigation agencies such as the FBI and the Secret Service and also the USPS Inspection Service to prosecute and identify theft and fraud cases. How can you prevent identity theft? Well there are of course the steps that I have mentioned previously, but it is important to be diligent in observation. What I mean by this is to be sure to check your credit score, bank accounts and other online resources weekly, monthly and yearly. Bank accounts should be checked weekly if not daily for any discrepancies in account detail. Your credit report should be checked yearly or you can sign up for a credit monitor which lets you know when major changes have been made or if companies are pulling your credit without you knowledge. Other online resources you can used to check would be google.com or even Facebook. By searching your name you can see if anyone has created or used that name, of course there may be people out there with same name but at least it gives you

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an idea if other details match up. The Justice Department came up with a catchy way to remember how to protect yourself against Identity Theft. They call it SCAM which stands for: S Be stingy about giving personal information to others unless you have a reason to

trust them, regardless of where you are. C Check your financial information regularly, and look for what should be there and what should not be. A Ask periodically for a copy of your credit report. M Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts.

There is no accurate date when identity fraud first started but it has always existed. There is nothing worse than having personal information stolen because all we possess is our own identity. People should be aware of identity theft because imposters will to anything to gain access to someones personal data for their benefit or gain. With enough identifying information about an individual, a criminal can take over that identity to conduct a wide range of crimes. For example, false applications for loans and credit cards, college tuition, fraudulent withdrawals from back accounts, wrong use of telephone calling cards, or obtaining other goods or privileges which the criminal might be denied if he were to use his or her real name. However, help is available through Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They can help the phone, online or in person, and local FBI or the U.S. Secret Service can also help. There are many ways to prevent imposters from accessing into personal data. When your identity get stolen de not just stand there and cry instead act quickly know what to do, who to contact, and where to find help. We all know no one can be too prepared and not everything can be predicted but knowing what to do will save you from getting financially hurt or having false police records under your name.

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Works Cited

Consumer Information. Identity Theft. N.P., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. Url: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft Examples of Identity Theft Schemes- Fiscal Year 2013. IRS, 24 Dec.2013. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. Url: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Examples-of-Identity-Theft-Schemes-Fiscal-Year-2013 Identity Theft Resource Center, Non-Profit Organization. Identity Theft Resource Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. Identity Theft. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Apr. 2014. Web. 29 Apr.2014. USDOJ: CRM: About the Criminal Division. USDOJ: CRM: About the Criminal Division. N.p.,n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html