Criminal Identity Theft, So What Is It Really?

In cases of “criminal identity theft”, or the abuse of the victim’s information in contacts with law enforcement, the end results are often an faulty criminal record for the victim, outstanding arrest warrants, and even short-term imprisonment. In some cases, the victim may be mysteriously fired from their place of employment due to an “undisclosed conviction”. This type of Identity Theft can have a disturbing and long-lasting impact on the victim. It can often be very complicated to fully resolve, if ever, and the victim will most likely need legal representation. Criminal convictions are also usually entered into public records, which can further negatively impact future employment opportunities, security clearances, insurance premiums, and pose an array of other significant potential challenges for the victim. Once incorrect criminal information is entered or linked to the victim’s name in a number of records databases, it can be extremely difficult to have it completely corrected. It may still result in a permanent alias or a.k.a (Also Known As) entry attached to the victim’s records. In severe cases, some victims have only been able to distance themselves from the impostor by legally changing their names, while others must carry court documentation with them at all times in order to prove to law enforcement that they are not the person being sought for crimes or arrest warrants.