What Is Falsified Identity?

Although falsified identity is a non-violent crime, it still hurts its victims.

"Falsified identity" is the non-violent theft of someone else's identity or the creation of a false identity. Identities might be falsified to apply for credit, identification documents, employment or education. Falsifying an identity is a punishable federal offense that carries hefty penalties, including jail time.

Definition

To falsify means to lie about, add to or change accurate information. An identity comprises individual factors that create a personality. Therefore, falsifying an identity means to change, steal or add characteristics or information from an existing identity and claim it to be your own.

Uses

Falsified identity is used directly or indirectly for monetary or personal gain. The most common type of falsified identity is identity theft. Stolen identities are used to open new credit accounts or to take money from existing accounts. Falsified identity can also be used to obtain jobs, education, admittance, or a new life. Many people take credit for another's work on school papers or claim other's jobs on resumes.

People who have a criminal history and find it difficult to get a job, home, or credit might falsify identity to get around the law. However, some people without criminal histories use a false identity to avoid prosecution when doing something illegal. Minors use false identification to gain access to clubs, or to buy alcohol or cigarettes. Less prevalent are people who seek thrills by falsifying identification to gain the freedom to be another person. Revenge also occurs; some people use false identities to hurt others' reputations.

Laws

In most states, falsified identity is a misdemeanor. However, some states have made this crime a felony. There are laws against every type of falsified identity as well as every use. Laws cover production, transfer, use or intention to use a false identity. Criminals who falsify identity can also be committing credit fraud, larceny and forgery.

Repercussions

Depending on each state's laws, penalties can include, but are not limited to, heavy monetary fines, prison time of up to 15 years, community service, seizure of true identity documents, and a criminal record. Criminals also face penalties and criminal records for other crimes they commit while falsifying identity.

References

• McMaster eBusiness Research Centre: False Identity
• The Harvard Crimson: Former Harvard Student Indicted For Falsified Applications, Identity Fraud
• Merriam-Webster: Falsify
• Merriam-Webster: Identity
• Social Security Online: Final Passage of H.R. 1731, the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act

Resources

• Economypoint: Falsification of documents
• U.S. Department of Justice: Identity Theft and Identity Fraud
• Identity Protection Reports: The Many Reasons For Identity Theft
• Cornell University Law School: Fraud and related activity ...