[20030321]RS21163_身份盗窃受害者可获得的补救措施.pdf

1 http:/www.consumer.gov/sentinel/trends.htm.2 18 U.S.C. 1028. The statute lists several actions that constitute fraud in connection withidentification documents. However, for the purposes of this report, they do not all relate toconsumer-related identity theft, i.e. situations where a consumers Social Security number ordrivers license number may be stolen and used to establish credit accounts by an impostor.Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21163Updated March 21, 2003Remedies Available to Victims of Identity TheftAngie A. WelbornLegislative AttorneyAmerican Law DivisionSummaryAccording to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is the most commoncomplaint from consumers in all fifty states, and complaints regarding identity theft havegrown for three consecutive years.1 Victims of identity theft may incur damaged creditrecords, unauthorized charges on credit cards, and unauthorized withdrawals from bankaccounts. Oftentimes, victims must change their addresses, telephone numbers, andeven their Social Security numbers. This report provides an overview of the federal laws that could assist victims