In Florida, it is a serious crime to use another person’s person identification information without their consent. This type of crime is commonly referred to as identity theft.
Personal identification information can mean using someone’s name, address, telephone number, social security number, date of birth, driver’s license number, bank account number, identification number for public assistance programs (food stamp, EBT, or Medicaid), credit card number, debit card number, or any personal identification code or password.
It is a crime to use any of these means - as well as several that have not been listed - to obtain a person’s financial resources.
A person who uses someone’s personal identification is a third-degree felony.
If you use somebody’s personal information to obtain $5,000 or more, or if you use the ID’s of 10-20 people, you are committing a second-degree felony with a mandatory minimum prison term of 3 years.
If the amount obtained due to the fraudulent and unauthorized use of ID equals $50,000 or more or you have used the IDs of 20-30 people, you are committing a first-degree felony with a five-year mandatory sentence.
If the amount is $100,000 or more or there are more than 30 people who have had their IDs stolen, you are looking at ten years mandatory imprisonment and a maximum sentence of thirty years.
Florida has cracked down on identity theft in recent years. Many investigations are initiated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Remember - there does not have to be an actual monetary loss sustained on the part of the victim. Simply using the personal identification information of another is enough to get yourself arrested.
If you have been charged with identity theft or fraudulently possessing or using another person's ID in Miami-Dade County or Broward County, call me.
If you believe that you may be the victim of identity theft, call the police.