The identities of individuals is not a tangible thing, as it cannot be touched or exchanged. However, it is continually being stolen by thieves and used to commit crimes such as financial fraud, seeking employment, and others.

The state of Arkansas has put laws in place that will protect the victims of this crime.

The Arkansas Identity Theft Laws provide a means to prevent the theft of identifying information that a photograph of the individual must include on all personal identities ranging from credit cards to driver’s license and other forms of photo identification.

Based on the law of Arkansas, Identity theft can classify into two categories based on the financial losses and the severity of the fraud; they include financial identity fraud and the non-financial type of identity fraud.

However, if the crime commits against the elderly or disabled citizen of the state, it is considered a higher class felony.

Before an individual’s identity can steal, the thief must have obtained some personal identification information; this information includes the social security number of the individual, password, fingerprint, and other information.

Financial Identity Fraud

When the identifying information of another person uses in opening an account, obtaining a credit card, or accessing the money intended for another person, financial fraud has been committed.

The law of Arkansas considers it unlawful to use the identifying personal information of an individual to access the financial information of the individual and open account lines.

Financial Identity Fraud regards as a Class C felony in the state, and it is punishable with a fee of $10,000 and a prison sentence of three to ten years.

Non-Financial Identity Fraud

When identifying information of another person uses for activities without financial gains, such as to cause harassment, have access to material possessions, or escaping from the law, non-financial fraud has committed.

Non-financial fraud regards as a Class D felony, and it attracts up to $10,000 in fines and a maximum of six years jail time.

Fraud Against an Elderly Person

When the identity fraud committed against an elderly person or a disabled person is financial, the charge becomes a Class B felony, which is punishable with a fee of $15,000 and a prison time of five to twenty years.

However, when the identity fraud committed is non-financial, the charge is a Class C offense with punishments mentioned above.

Security Freeze

Consumers in the state of Arkansas are permitted to put their credit report on security freeze whenever a person is suspicious that identity theft has taken place, so the thief would no longer be able to apply in any line of credit through the stolen name.

In this situation, the lines of credit, loans, cell phones, employment applications, utility bill accounts, and even mortgages would not be able to go through.

When this security freeze is put in place, a personal identification number would be administered, alongside the individual’s identity verification documents, to unfreeze the account.

Canceling a freeze can be done either electrically or by phone, depending on the individual; however, it is advisable to request to cancel the freeze by mail.

Identity Theft Passport

It has become the right of individuals who have already been made victims of Identity theft to acquire a passport that would verify their status as victims. This passport is similar to a driver’s license and expects to be with the victim at all times.

This passport is a means by which victims can prove their innocence and show officials who may doubt their identity, their status.