because they use your personal information for their own personal gain without regard and in most cases without paying the bills that they create.

eft in its most simple and common form. It can be accomplished either through a scenario like someone digging through your garbage, or it can happen when your pre-approved credit card offers fall into the wrong hands. All a person has to do is get these out of your mailbox or trash can and mail them in with a change of address request and start spending. To steal someone's identity no longer requires forged birth certificates or smudged photographs in driver's licenses but a minimum of technical knowledge. So the warnings may be well justified. Someone can even apply for a credit card in your name if they have the right information. You won't know a thing about it until the credit card company tracks you down and demands payment for the purchases you have a racked up. The threats involved in identity theft can include opening a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. When they use the credit card they don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is terminated and is reported to your credit report. They call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, change the mailing address on your credit cad account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, you will not immediately know there is a problem. They establish cellular phone service in your name and again don't pay the bill. They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account. All while you have no idea of any of these actions transpiring. With a person's name, social security number and date of birth, someone can get loans, access the person's existing bank accounts, open new bank accounts, lease or buy cars, get insurance, you name it. Think about the things you throw in the trash. Even pay stubs you throw away once you've recorded the amount in your checkbook. There is a lot of important information on that seemingly unimportant piece of paper. It could include your full name, your address, your social security number, your complete bank account number if you have direct deposit, your employer and address and your salary. This type of information can be provided to get a credit card or a loan or lease a car. There is very little additional information that is needed in order to get that loan.

Recently a bill was passed sponsored by Senators Joseph Coniglio and Stephen M. Sweeney that would upgrade penalties for crimes related to identity theft and allow for civil action for identity theft victims was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. "In this time of heightened risk to the security of our state and country, we must take every precaution to protect against identity theft," said Senator Bergen. Stealing a person's identity not only throws that person's life into chaos, but also poses a risk to the entire country. It is time that we have the appropriate punishment available for fraud at this level. The bill, S-2238, would upgrade the crime of identity theft from a fourth-degree crime to a third-degree crime, punishable by up to $15,000 in fines and/or 3 to 5 years in jai

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