Jul
27
Is it Illegal & Considered “Identity Theft” if someone just temporarily “borrows” another’s identity?
Filed Under Law & Ethics
Is it considered illegal identity theft if someone, just temporarily borrows another person’s identity with no intention to defraud anyone, or ruin anyone’s credit.
For example, if a person with no SSN uses a relatives name and SSN to buy a Prepaid Direct Deposit Cash Card to verify Paypal & so that family/relatives/friends, can easily send them money as needed?
Suppose that this person is in this country on an extended vacation & wants to sell on eBay some of the stuff they bought. Since they don’t have an SSN or US bank account to verify Paypal, can they set up an eBay/Paypal account in their relatives name, and use their SSN to buy a “No ID required(except for SSN) prepaid Direct Deposit ATM cash card” to verify their account, and get money.
If there is no intent to defraud, or actions to that effect (like applying for credit cards & running up huge bills then defaulting on payments) then is it considered identity theft & is it a crime?
Calvin
Comments
9 Responses to “Is it Illegal & Considered “Identity Theft” if someone just temporarily “borrows” another’s identity?”
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Denise
Yes. It is illegal to use anyone identy than your own.
Teresa
Yes and I would strongly suggest not doing this. Identity theft is taken very seriously these days.
Donald
But it IS intent to defraud… you are defrauding the company by using FRAUDULENT information to obtain its services.
Identity theft, no. Fraud and perjury, YES.
Bernice
Yes, very illegal. Don’t do it, it won’t be worth it.
Vincent
Technically what you are describing is not identity theft, it is Fraud and Misrepresentation, which can be classified as felonies depending on how severe. I would strongly recommend not doing what you plan to do, as you could very well wind up in prison.
Grace
It is considered identity theft and it is against the law. I hope that you are not considering doing this or know of anyone who is thinking about it.
Roland
The use of an identity other than your own even if you have no intent to cheat someone monetarily is still fraud. My uncle discovered that someone bought a pickup with his name and paid it off in a year (raising my uncle’s credit rating in the process) but still committed a crime by passing himself off as my uncle. Our identity, our name, is the ONLY thing we truly posses. Stealing that from a person even with no other malicious intent is a crime.
Joseph
Identity theft is identity theft. There are no black and white issues. When someone using another SSN or any other identifying information for whatever reason they are technically stealing their identity.
The issue comes when trying to enforce it by law. In most cases it is difficult to enforce small incidents, but it can be done and it would not be worth the risk.
Greg
It is still identity theft. You are using someone elses identity.