English

DTIC ADA522203: Identity Theft: Trends and Issues

In the wake of the economic downturn, policymakers are increasingly concerned with securing the economic health of the United States-including combating those crimes that threaten to further undermine the nation?s financial stability. Identity theft is one such crime. It is the fastest growing type of fraud in the United States; in 2009 about 11.1 million Americans were reportedly victims of identity theft, an increase of about 12% from the number of cases in 2008. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that it costs consumers about $50 billion annually. Identity theft is often committed to facilitate other crimes such as credit card fraud, document fraud, or employment fraud, which in turn can affect not only the nation's economy but its security. Consequently, in securing the nation and its economic health, policymakers are also tasked with reducing identity theft and its impact. Congress continues to debate the federal government?s role in (1) preventing identity theft and its related crimes, (2) mitigating the potential effects of identity theft after it occurs, and (3) providing the most effective tools to investigate and prosecute identity thieves. With res

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