 |
In order to
coordinate an improved response to victims of identity theft,
SCVAN is forming a new statewide Coalition made up of
stakeholders in the criminal justice community, federal and
state agencies, and public and private businesses to provide a
“one stop shop” to offer specific and expert assistance in
working with identity theft victims.
This coalition is supported by a subgrant from the
National Identity Theft
Victim Assistance Network Project, providing training,
technical assistance, and programmatic and financial oversight
to the awardees to better address the rights and needs of
victims of identity theft nationwide.
Since 2007,
South Carolina has passed 18 laws protecting victims of identity
theft, and many violations are felony offenses, punishable by up
to ten years in prison and/or a fine. However, there is little
information about how to access help, how to recover damages,
and who is available to assist victims of identity theft.
According to the
Federal Trade Commission, around 12 million or 5 percent of
Americans over the age of 16 became victims of identity theft in
the two year period ending in June 2008. Financial identity
theft is only part of the overall picture; over 600,000 victims
experienced other types of identity theft, including criminal,
medical and interfamilial identity theft.
THIS
DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA VICTIM ASSISTANCE
NETWORK UNDER AWARD
#
2010-VF-GX-K030,
AWARDED BY THE
OFFICE
FOR
VICTIMS
OF
CRIME, OFFICE
OF
JUSTICE
PROGRAMS,
U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF
JUSTICE
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
MARYLAND
CRIME
VICTIMS’ RESOURCE
CENTER. THE OPINIONS,
FINDINGS,
AND CONCLUSIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED IN
THIS DOCUMENT ARE THOSE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS AND DO NOT
NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OFFICIAL POSITION OR POLICIES OF THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE OR
MARYLAND
CRIME
VICTIMS’ RESOURCE
CENTER, INC. |
