Most people would agree that more needs to be done to not only catch identity thieves, but also that they should be punished to robbing people of their identity and financial stability. It looks like the punishments for at least some identity thieves may become stiffer. Friday the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that will increase penalties for those convicted of committing financial identity theft against a disabled or elderly person. The proposal will now be decided by the Senate.
The penalty is now between three and 10 years of prison time and a fine of up to $10,000, but if this bill passes, it would increase to between five and twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. The bill would also allow the court to order anyone convicted of identity to pay restitution to his/her victims.
While this is a step in the right direction, I don't really think its enough. For one thing, some identity thieves operate from offshore. These thieves are rarely investigated or caught, let alone punished. Besides, what's to stop a local identity thief to leave the country before he is caught? More needs to be done to train local law enforcement to investigate and catch identity thieves and educate the public regarding prevention methods.
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