Identity Theft Laws
60 articles
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A Scammer Has My Information: What They Can Do and How to Fix It
Gave a scammer your Social Security number, bank login, card number, a code or your phone number? What each lets them do, the free fixes and your federal rights.
Alabama Identity Theft Laws: Statute, Reporting, and Your Rights
Alabama identity theft falls under Ala. Code 13A-8-192. See how to file with the Attorney General, the 2018 data breach law, and your federal rights.
Alaska Identity Theft Laws: Criminal Impersonation and Your Rights
Alaska has no statute titled identity theft. See how AS 11.46.565 criminal impersonation and AS 45.48's freeze and reporting rights work together.
Arizona Identity Theft Laws: A.R.S. 13-2008 Penalties and Rights
Arizona identity theft is charged under A.R.S. 13-2008 and 13-2009. See penalties, your mandatory police-report right, restitution, and civil remedies.
Arkansas Identity Theft Laws: Financial Fraud and the ID Passport
Arkansas splits identity theft into financial and nonfinancial fraud under Ark. Code 5-37-227, and offers verified victims an Identity Theft Passport.
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California Identity Theft Laws: Penal Code 530.5 and Your Rights
California identity theft is charged under Penal Code 530.5. See penalties, the factual-innocence process, free minor freezes, and civil remedies.
Child Identity Theft: Warning Signs, Credit Checks, and the Minor Freeze Right
How child identity theft happens, the FTC's warning signs, how to check if your child has a credit file, and the free Protected Consumer Freeze.
Colorado Identity Theft Laws: Penalties, Freezes, and Remedies
Colorado identity theft is charged under C.R.S. 18-5-902. See penalties, the free protected-consumer freeze, factual innocence, and civil remedies.
Connecticut Identity Theft Laws: Degrees, Penalties, and Reporting
Connecticut tiers identity theft into three degrees under Conn. Gen. Stat. 53a-129a to 129d. See penalties, the civil action, and where to report.
Credit Freeze vs. Fraud Alert: What is the Difference
A credit freeze blocks new credit outright; a fraud alert only makes lenders verify your identity first. Both are free. Here is when to use which.
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Delaware Identity Theft Laws: Statute, Passport Program, and Victim Rights
Delaware's identity theft law (11 Del. C. § 854) is a flat Class D felony with mandatory restitution. Learn about the state's Identity Theft Passport program.
District of Columbia Identity Theft Laws: Statute, Penalties, and Victim Rights
DC's identity theft law (D.C. Code § 22-3227.02) carries penalties up to 10 years. Learn the degree structure, record-correction rights, and how to report it.
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Florida Identity Theft Laws: Penalties, Protected Classes, and Victim Rights
Florida's identity theft law (Fla. Stat. § 817.568) starts as a third-degree felony and escalates with dollar value, victim count, and victim age.
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Georgia Identity Theft Laws: Identity Fraud Statute and Victim Resources
Georgia treats identity theft as a felony under O.C.G.A. § 16-9-121. Learn how to report it and use the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
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Hawaii Identity Theft Laws: Three Degrees, Felony Classes, and Reporting
Hawaii's identity theft law splits into three degrees by the severity of the underlying crime, from a Class A felony down to a Class C felony.
How to Report Identity Theft: FTC Report and Next Steps
How to report identity theft: file a free FTC report at IdentityTheft.gov, know when a police report also helps, and use FCRA 605B to block fraud.
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Idaho Identity Theft Laws: Misappropriation Statute and Penalties
Idaho's identity theft law (Idaho Code 18-3126) is a flat felony with no dollar-value threshold, punishable by up to five years and a $50,000 fine.
Identity Theft Laws: Federal Rules and State Penalties
Identity theft is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 1028 and every state law. See the FTC free recovery process, warning signs, and a 51-state penalty table.
Illinois Identity Theft Laws: Statute, Penalties, and the AG Hotline
Illinois identity theft law (720 ILCS 5/16-30) tiers penalties by dollar value and adds aggravated identity theft for victims 60+ or with a disability.
Indiana Identity Theft Laws
Indiana criminalizes identity deception under IC 35-43-5-3.5. See how to report it to the Attorney General, plus the federal freeze and fraud alert rights.
Iowa Identity Theft Laws
Iowa Code 715A.8 tiers identity theft by dollar value. See the Identity Theft Passport Program, the minor freeze law, and the civil damages right.
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Kansas Identity Theft Laws
Kansas identity theft is a severity level 8 felony under K.S.A. 21-6107, level 5 above $100,000 loss. See the AG's authority to assist victims directly.
Kentucky Identity Theft Laws
Kentucky's theft of identity, KRS 514.160, is a flat Class D felony with no dollar-value tiers. See the minor freeze law, AG hotlines, and civil remedies.
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Louisiana Identity Theft Laws
Louisiana identity theft, La. R.S. 14:67.16, is tiered by value up to 10 years, with an enhanced tier for victims 60+, disabled, or under 17. See victim rights.
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Maine Identity Theft Laws
Maine requires police to file an identity theft report on request. See the misuse-of-identification statute, the minor freeze law, and victim rights.
Maryland Identity Theft Laws
Maryland identity fraud, Crim. Law 8-301, tiers to 20 years by value. See the mandatory police report, the Identity Theft Passport, and the freeze law.
Massachusetts Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Victim Rights
Massachusetts identity fraud is a crime under M.G.L. c.266 Section 37E, with mandatory restitution and a 24-hour police report right. See penalties and rights.
Medical Identity Theft: EOB Review, HIPAA Rights, and Fixing Your Records
How to spot medical identity theft in your EOBs, your HIPAA rights to inspect and amend records, and how to notify providers and insurers.
Michigan Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Victim Resources
Michigan's Identity Theft Protection Act (MCL 445.65, 445.69) sets felony penalties up to 15 years. See penalties, MITS victim resources, and pending bills.
Minnesota Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Victim Rights
Minnesota identity theft under Minn. Stat. 609.527 has six penalty tiers by victim count or loss. See penalties, the minor freeze law, and victim rights.
Mississippi Identity Theft Laws: What Is Confirmed and What Is Not
Mississippi identity theft is a crime under Miss. Code Ann. Section 97-45-19. See what is verified, what remains unconfirmed, and how to report a case.
Missouri Identity Theft Laws: Penalties, Civil Remedies, and Reporting
Missouri identity theft under RSMo 570.223 ranges from misdemeanor to Class B felony and includes a private civil lawsuit right. See penalties and rights.
Montana Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and the Identity Theft Passport
Montana identity theft under Mont. Code Ann. 45-6-332 offers an Identity Theft Passport and free expungement. See penalties, victim rights, and freezes.
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Nebraska Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Reporting
Nebraska identity theft under Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-639 is tiered by dollar value, from a misdemeanor to a Class IIA felony. See penalties and how to report.
Nevada Identity Theft Laws: NRS 205.463 Penalties and Victim Resources
Nevada identity theft law under NRS 205.463, the AG's consumer resources, and the free freeze and fraud-alert rights that apply to every Nevada resident.
New Hampshire Identity Theft Laws: RSA 638:26 and Your Security Freeze Rights
New Hampshire's identity fraud statute RSA 638:26, its own state freeze law, the mandatory police-report right under RSA 359-B:29, and federal protections.
New Jersey Identity Theft Laws: Mandatory Police Reports and Civil Remedies
New Jersey requires police to take an identity theft report even if jurisdiction lies elsewhere. See the theft-of-identity statute, grading, and civil action.
New Mexico Identity Theft Laws and the Identity Theft Passport Program
New Mexico's identity theft statute, its Identity Theft Passport program for victims confused with offenders by police, restitution rights, and freeze rules.
New York Identity Theft Laws: The Four Degrees Under Penal Law 190.78-190.80-a
New York's four degrees of identity theft, from a class A misdemeanor to class D felonies, the aggravated offense protecting deployed troops, and freeze rights.
North Carolina Identity Theft Laws: Penalties, Restitution, and Victim Resources
North Carolina identity theft law under G.S. 14-113.20, felony penalties, restitution and civil remedies, the DOJ's Protected Consumer freeze, and your rights.
North Dakota Identity Theft Laws: N.D.C.C. 12.1-23-11 Penalties Explained
North Dakota identity theft law under N.D.C.C. 12.1-23-11, its two-track felony and misdemeanor penalties, the 6-year filing window, and federal freeze rights.
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Ohio Identity Theft Laws: Penalties, Minor Freeze Rights, and the Identity Theft Unit
Ohio identity fraud law under R.C. 2913.49, its minor protected-consumer freeze, the civil right of action, the AG's Identity Theft Unit, and federal rights.
Oklahoma Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Victim Resources
Oklahoma's identity theft law is at 21 O.S. Section 1533.1. A 2026 law expands what counts as stolen identifying information. See victim resources and rights.
Oregon Identity Theft Laws: ORS 165.800 and 165.803 Explained
Oregon identity theft under ORS 165.800 is a Class C felony; aggravated theft under ORS 165.803 is Class B. See the four triggers and victim rights.
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Pennsylvania Identity Theft Laws: 18 Pa.C.S. Section 4120 Grading
Pennsylvania identity theft is graded by dollar value under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 4120. Victims can also sue for treble damages under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 8315.
Phishing, Smishing and Vishing: Spot Them and What to Do If You Clicked
Phishing comes by email, smishing by text, vishing by phone. Learn the tells, what to do if you clicked or gave info, where to report it, and your bank rights.
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Rhode Island Identity Theft Laws: Identity Fraud Penalties
Rhode Island identity fraud penalties under Section 11-49.1-4 rise with each repeat offense. See the tiers, victim rights, and the 2026 breach-law bill.
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South Carolina Identity Theft Laws: Mandatory Police Reports
South Carolina requires police to take an ID theft report under Section 37-20-130. Victims can recover treble damages or $3,000 per incident.
South Dakota Identity Theft Laws: SDCL 22-40-8 Penalties
South Dakota identity theft under SDCL 22-40-8 is a flat Class 6 felony. The state's minor freeze law, Chapter 54-16, predates the federal version by two years.
Synthetic Identity Theft: How It Works and the CPN Scam Targeting Kids' SSNs
What synthetic identity fraud is, why scammers target children's and seniors' Social Security numbers, and the illegal CPN scheme sold as a fix.
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Tax Identity Theft: When to File IRS Form 14039
Most tax identity theft cases do not need Form 14039, the IRS says. Learn when to file it, when to follow an IRS letter instead, and the IP PIN program.
Tennessee Identity Theft Laws: Treble Damages Under TCA 39-14-150
Tennessee's Identity Theft Victims' Rights Act lets victims recover triple damages plus fees, sue where they live, and get a new license number.
Texas Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Victim Rights
Texas identity theft is a felony under Penal Code 32.51, scaled by how many records are involved. Learn the penalty tiers, victim remedies, and freeze rights.
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Utah Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Victim Rights
Utah charges identity fraud as a felony under Code 76-6-1102, with mandatory restitution. See the penalty tiers, freeze rights, and reporting resources.
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Vermont Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Victim Rights
Vermont identity theft under 13 V.S.A. 2030 is capped at 3 years for a first offense. Learn the penalty structure, freeze rights, and breach notice rules.
Virginia Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and the Identity Theft Passport
Virginia identity theft under Code 18.2-186.3 ranges from a misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony. Learn the penalties and the Identity Theft Passport program.
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Washington Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Victim Rights
Washington identity theft under RCW 9.35.020 carries built-in civil damages of $1,000 or actual loss. Learn the penalty tiers and victim remedies.
West Virginia Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Victim Rights
West Virginia identity theft under Code 61-3-54 is a flat felony with no dollar threshold. See the penalty, freeze rights, and AG reporting resources.
Wisconsin Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and Treble Damages
Wisconsin identity theft under Statute 943.201 is a flat Class H felony, but civil victims can recover treble damages. Learn the penalties and how to report.
Wyoming Identity Theft Laws: Penalties and the Factual Innocence Petition
Wyoming identity theft under Statute 6-3-901 splits at a $1,000 economic benefit line. Learn the penalties and the court petition for factual innocence.