New Hampshire Identity Theft Lawyer
Identity theft is a growing problem in the United States. In 2011, losses from identity theft cost about $1.52 million and to date have impacted over 15 million people. Many of the methods used to collect information about people are outside of the control of the person whose identity becomes compromised. If you or a loved one have been charged with identity theft, you should contact a New Hampshire identity theft lawyer immediately. An experienced fraud attorney can begin building the most robust defense possible for you.
Defining Identity Theft
Identity theft or identity fraud is a crime where one person uses the personal data of another person for fraudulent purposes or to deceive to obtain an economic benefit or gain. Examples of identity theft or fraud include:
- Shoulder surfing
- Watching or listening to pin numbers, addresses, social security numbers, or credit and debit card numbers
- Activating preapproved credit card offers
- Responding to spam
- Phishing to steal large amounts of personal data
- Submitting false application for loans and credit cards
- Fraudulently withdrawing money from bank accounts
- Fraudulently using someone else’s online accounts
In New Hampshire specifically, posing as another person for the purposes of defrauding another in order to obtain money, credit, goods, or services is considered identity theft. This is also true if a person poses as another in order to obtain confidential information of a person.
Related Identity Crimes
Identity theft crimes are often associated with other crimes. These other crimes are added to the identity theft crime and subjects a person accused of committing identity theft to additional penalties and jail time, if applicable. These other crimes, commonly associated with identity theft include credit card fraud, computer fraud, financial fraud, identification fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. Anyone facing these charges should speak with a New Hampshire identity theft lawyer about building a defense.
Identity theft crimes have a local New Hampshire component and federal component. In addition to local law enforcement, a person accused of committing identity theft and related crimes may be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the US Secret Service, the US Postal Inspection Service, or the Internal Revenue Service.
Consulting a Lawyer
Some of the impacts of an identity theft crime are masked if the alleged victim’s financial system reimburses the person for losses. Someone charged with an identity theft crime, however, receives no such pass or relief. Restitution, or reimbursing the person who sustains the loss, is often a condition of the sentence along with court penalties, fines, and possible jail time. Like in any criminal case, the government has the burden of proof, and must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person charged committed the identity theft crime.
The statute of limitations in New Hampshire for felony crimes ranges from two to six years. For misdemeanors offenses, the statute of limitations is one year, and violations the statute of limitations is six months. It may be critical to speak with a New Hampshire identity theft lawyer regarding your case.