There is a wide variety of area and contexts in which we make use of our personal identifying information, these days, which range from online shopping to paying for bills through smartphones.
Wisconsin Identity Theft Laws
All of which makes identity theft more dangerous and easier to carry out. The state if Wisconsin, however, has specific laws concerning the crime that is identity theft.
Identity Theft refers to the use of the personal information of other people without their authorization in carrying out both financial and non-financial transactions. Personal information includes full name, address broth date and more.
Financial transactions range from using the personal identifying information to obtain goods, services, credit or cash, while non-financial transactions involve using the identity of another to seek employment, escape prosecution by the court or intimidate others, amongst others.
Provided that an individual has become a victim of identity theft, such individual is required to file a police report in order to get an investigation going as regards the matter and prove that he or she is indeed a victim. The report can also be used to place a security freeze on the credit report of such an individual.
Unauthorized Use of Personal Information
Personal Information refers to any type of information that when obtained can be used to acquire things of value. This information reis regarded as illegal or unauthorized for use by individuals who are not the owner.
Apart from the ones mentioned above, they include license plate number, bank account t information, driver’s license number, place of employment and several more.
If this information is used in an attempt to make any financial transaction, then the perpetrator of such an act is going to be charged with a Class H felony in the state of Wisconsin.
Mandatory Police Report
Any individual who has been a victim of identity theft in the state of Wisconsin has the right to file a police report with the county in which he or she resides.
However, if the local county does not have jurisdiction over the criminal case, then the county must describe the agency with jurisdiction to the victim.
The person who reported the criminal incident also has to have a copy of the filed police report so it would be a part of his/her records.
Impersonating a Public Officer
If an individual impersonates a public officer, he/she has committed a felony in the state of Wisconsin. This involves the perpetrator telling other people that he or she is an officer in order to intimidate them, or pretending to be an officer in an effort to gain information.
This crime is regarded as a Class I felony charge.
Fraudulent Financial Card Crimes
There are essentially four crimes that can be committed with financial cards.
Taking a card that belongs to another person.
Making use of a card lost by other people. It is a crime in the state of Wisconsin to be in possession of a lost card for more than seven days
Purchasing or selling a financial transaction card.
Using a false statement to obtain a financial card using the name and Identifying information of another person.
An individual who is found to be guilty of offenses of identity theft in the state of Wisconsin is considered to be have committed crimes and is charged with a felony and the punishment to these charges are:
Class H felony charge. This felony charge attracts a maximum of six years in a prison cell with fines that may be up to, but not more than $10,000
Class I felony charge. This charge attracts a maximum of three and a half years prison sentence with a fine that may be up to $10,000.
Indiana Identity theft laws
Stealing an individual’s identity to defraud or to commit a crime is considered as an illegal act. The identity theft
Colorado Identity theft laws
Any individual knowingly or without the consent, impersonates another actual person by stealing the identity information; s/he can be subjected
Michigan Identity theft laws
Identity theft is stealing an individual’s identity and according to Michigan identity theft laws, it is a serious crime, which