It is interesting how individuals do not need to get close to you before they can steal from you anymore.
Maine Identity Theft Laws
It is interesting how individuals do not need to get close to you before they can steal from you anymore. They do not even need to know what you look like. To prevent this theft from happening, the state of Maine has developed some laws that aim to protect consumers and the residents of the state from having their personally identifying information stolen.
Identity Theft
Identity theft refers to the practice of an individual (also known as the perpetrator) obtaining personal identifying information, including the address, driver’s license numbers, and other information of another individual (known as the victim).
- The personal identifying information of the victim is usually obtained in many ways -which include but is not limited to:
- The perpetrator or thief is going through the trash or garbage of the individual, looking for anything that could hold the personal and financial information of the individual.
- The perpetrator could also look into your mailbox and sift through your mail in search of information.
- The address of the hour home could be changed, such that the MSIL would deliver to the wrong address.
- They could also make use of an electronic device called skimming, which encoded the information on your financial cards, amongst others.
The law of the State of Maine prohibits any of the following acts:
- When the individual uses any information or legal identification that the individual is not authorized to use, including the social security card, driver’s license, birth certificate, etc.
- When the individual uses a stolen, forged, or already canceled credit or debit card obtained through fraudulent and illegal means.
- When the individual uses or presents an account, billing number, or credit, the individual is not authorized to use or acquired through fraudulent or unlawful means.
Scanning Device
A scanning device refers to an electronic device used in obtaining information on the financial card of other people. It uses a re-encoder, an electronic device, except it is used to place a statement on a card to have it working.
These two practices are regarded as crimes in Maine, and they are classified as a Class D felony charge.
Security Freeze
It refers to the rights possessed by all the consumers and residents of the state of Maine. This gag allows individuals to freeze their reports. It is done to prevent lines of credit from going through in the name of the individuals. It is one way to get out of identity theft. If a victim of the theft notices the discrepancy in their credit report early, s/he can make the security freeze effective, and no more charge will make to the account.
However, the security freeze has to be done in writing, and the writing has to forward to the three reporting agencies in the State. However, this service is free for victims of identity theft, provided they have a police report.
For residents who want to place the freeze on their account, they must pay an association fee of $10 to each reporting agency.
Penalties
The misuse of identification regards as a Class D felony charge in the state of Maine. It is punishable with a maximum of one year jail time and a fine of up to $2,000
Apart from the above, the perpetrator must pay back restitution to the victims of their identity theft. In addition, they are expected to pay back everything they have lost through identity theft.
They do not even need to know what you look like. To prevent this theft from happening, the state of Maine has developed some laws that aim to protect consumers and the residents of the state from having their personally identifying information stolen.
Identity Theft
Identity theft refers to the practice of an individual (also known as the perpetrator) obtaining personal identifying information, including the address, driver’s license numbers, and other information of another individual (known as the victim).
- The personal identifying information of the victim is usually obtained in many ways -which include but is not limited to:
- The perpetrator or thief is going through the trash or garbage of the individual, looking for anything that could hold the personal and financial information of the individual.
- The perpetrator could also look into your mailbox and sift through your mail in search of information.
- The address of the hour home could be changed, such that the MSIL would deliver to the wrong address.
- They could also make use of an electronic device called skimming, which encoded the information on your financial cards, amongst others.
The law of the State of Maine prohibits any of the following acts:
- When the individual uses any information or legal identification that the individual is not authorized to use, including the social security card, driver’s license, birth certificate, etc.
- When the individual uses a stolen, forged, or already canceled credit or debit card obtained through fraudulent and illegal means.
- When the individual uses or presents an account, billing number, or credit, the individual is not authorized to use or acquired through fraudulent or unlawful means.
Scanning Device
A scanning device refers to an electronic device used in obtaining information on the financial card of other people. It is used alongside a re-encoder, which is also an electronic device, except it is used to place information on a card to have it working.
These two practices are regarded as crimes in Maine, and they are classified as a Class D felony charge.
Security Freeze
It refers to the rights possessed by all the consumers and residents of the state of Maine. This gag allows individuals to freeze their reports. It is done to prevent lines of credit from going through in the name of the individuals.
It is one way to get out of identity theft. If a victim of the theft notices the discrepancy in their credit report early, s/he can make the security freeze effective, and no more charge will make to the account.
However, the security freeze has to be done in writing, and the writing has to be forwarded to the three reporting agencies in the State. However, this service is free for victims of identity theft, provided they have a police report.
For residents who want to place the freeze on their account, they must pay an association fee of $10 to each reporting agency.
Penalties
The misuse of identification regards as a Class D felony charge in the state of Maine. It is punishable with a maximum of one year jail time and a fine of up to $2,000
Apart from the above, the perpetrator must pay back restitution to the victims of their identity theft. In addition, they are expected to pay back everything they have lost through identity theft.