Cover Story
by Emily Kurtz
Most of he colprits commited identity theft to support their drug habits.
Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index
Previous Cover Stories | Send mail to The Voice
Identity theft is now easier to committ than ever before
Officer James Lawrence and his partner, Officer Barbara Glass, make up Portland's East Precinct Special Crimes Team. Officer Lawrence said that check, credit card and Internet fraud are the three most common types of theft, with check fraud being No. 1.
He said identity theft is easier to commit now more than ever. Personal information is easier to obtain because the Internet has become so widely available, allowing people to access previously hard-to-obtain public records. In addition, high technology in computer graphics makes duplicating identification cards of all types much easier than before. Other factors leading to the spread of identity theft include inadequate security at banks and lax identification checks at stores.
Officer Lawrence said some criminals who have previously committed violent crimes are moving to identity theft because stealing someone's identity is easier than robbing a home or business. In addition, prison time for identity theft without a weapon is much shorter than time for crimes with weapons.
State legislatures and the federal government are recognizing the increase in identity theft and the need for change in current procedures for releasing personal information. As a result, law enforcement agencies have increased their technology to equal that of the thieves, Officer Lawrence said.
The average identity thief is a white male in his mid-20s to mid-30s, Officer Lawrence said. All but one of the cases he and Officer Glass dealt with this year involved drug addicts, and all but two addicts used methamphetamines. Most of the culprits committed identity theft to support their drug habits. One man Officer Lawrence investigated was stealing identities to make a living. The police found this man's house filled with items he had purchased using other people's identities. Cases such as this, however, are not common, Officer Lawrence said.
In "ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name," the Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to notify the bank immediately if unauthorized charges appear on their ATM or debit cards. If they report these within two days, victims are only held responsible for $50; victims who report unauthorized charges within 60 days, pay up to $500 maximum; after 60 days victims are responsible for all debt obtained.
Officer Lawrence said he would like to see more uniformity in the formation of identification cards in the United States. He believes having the same format for all the states and a uniform process for verifying identity will aid in discontinuing identity theft.
The Federal Trade Commission developed a consumer education campaign and a toll-free help line to help consumers avoid and report identity theft. Increased networking between federal and local agencies is also helping to deal with identity theft.
"While you can't prevent identity theft, you can minimize your risk by managing your personal information wisely," according to the Federal Trade Commision website on identity theft.
Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index
Previous Cover Stories | Top Of Page
Send mail to The Voice|
Journalism department website
© 2003 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.