Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act

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The federal Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (1998) makes identity theft a federal crime.

• makes it illegal for anyone to knowingly transfer or use another person’s identification with the intent to commit a crime
• under the law, an identification document is any document made or issued by the federal or a state government
• Identifying information includes:
  • name
  • Social Security number (SSN)
  • driver’s license number
  • Unique biometric data, such as fingerprint, voice print, retina or iris image, or other unique physical representation
  • Unique electronic identification number, address, or routing code
  • Electronic serial number or any other number or signal that identifies a specific telecommunications device or account
  • Any other piece of information that may be used to identify a specific person

Penalty

• subject to fines and criminal penalties of up to 15 years in prison
• increases to 30 years in special circumstances
  • where identity theft is used to facilitate terrorism
• violators must give any personal property used to commit identity theft crimes to the government