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Public Knowledge Center > Identity Theft |
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Driver's License & Identification Theft and Misuse
After the Social Security number, an individual's driver's license or identification card number is the most widely utilized identifier. Capitalizing on system weaknesses, thieves can utilize the victim's personal identifying information and forged or easily obtained identity documents, such as a birth certificate, in order to obtain a driver's license or government-issued identification card in the victim's name.
Victims of driver's license or ID card Identity Theft may suddenly discover that a thief's actions have resulted in charges of DUI / DWI or any number of other driving-related offenses, suspended or revoked driving privileges, or they may face sudden arrest for outstanding warrants for "Failure to Appear" revealed during routine traffic stops. Once again, in these types of cases the victim may require the assistance of a qualified attorney to resolve the situation, particularly in cases involving criminal charges.
Driving-related offenses erroneously included in the victim's driving records may also cause a sudden and unexpected cancellation of the victim's automobile insurance, an inability to obtain insurance coverage, or a dramatic increase in insurance premiums on existing policies.
Because the driver's license is effectively a form of national ID in the United States, it is used for passenger screening and identification by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the fraudulent use of a driver's license or ID card number in the victim's name may result in the victim's inclusion in No-Fly and security watch lists. Misuse of this identifier can also cause erroneous records in any number of other records databases, including check verification and acceptance databases, posing further problems for the victim.
The Potential Consequences of an Incident of Driver's License Identity Theft
Consider a case involving a simple, minor traffic violation, such as speeding, by an identity thief utilizing a victim's driver's license or state-issued identification:
The thief provides the victim's license to the law enforcement officer, or claims to have forgotten his wallet and provides the victim's name and information to the officer because he may not have a valid driver's license or proof of insurance. A routine traffic citation is then issued - in the victim's name. A possible increase in insurance premiums for the victim is only the beginning of the problem, because the imposter does not respond to the citation or pay the fine.
As a result, a bench warrant is issued for the victim's arrest for "Failure to Appear". At some point in the future, the victim may be stopped for his or her own minor traffic violation and the outstanding warrant will be discovered, resulting in the victim's immediate arrest. Depending upon the day and time of the arrest, the victim may spend the night or even the entire weekend in jail before he or she is brought before a judge.
©Copyright 2008 by Michael Barnett. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, copying, or distribution without permission is prohibited.
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