Every year, millions of U.S. citizens become victims of identity theft. As technology improves to protect the consumer, so too does the resourcefulness of cyber criminals. Anyone who stores or uses their information on the Internet is susceptible. Often, these crimes are not prosecuted because the criminals are difficult to find. When they are found, however, they are subject to the growing number of cyber laws and the penalties that come with them. Breaking this law carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, a fine and criminal forfeiture of any property that the perpetrator used to commit the crime. If during the process of stealing, the perpetrator also engages in identification fraud, credit card fraud, computer fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud or financial institution fraud, as defined by federal law, they could go to jail for much longer. Some of these offenses carry 30-year maximum prison sentences. This is a separate offense altogether and it carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence on top of any other penalties imposed. If the perpetrator is found to have committed aggravated identity theft in connection with an act of terrorism, a five-year mandatory sentence is imposed. Neither of these sentences can be substituted with probation. The law does specifically state that when identity theft victims bring their attacker to justice, and the latter are ordered to pay restitution, that restitution should equal the time and money used by the victim to fix the problems brought on by their attacker. Writer Bio
