Identity theft is taking, without his consent, the identity or personal data of another person and to use them in a malicious purpose.

Stolen information can be used to make financial transactions (e.g. obtaining credit), administrative (e.g. issuing an identity card...) or commercial (e.g. purchase). They can be used to commit crimes infringements (e.g. scam) or to infringe reputation of the victim (e.g. defamation).

It's a offense penal.

In case of malicious use of personal data of the victim, we're talking aboutdigital identity theft.

The usurpation identity is different from the use of a false identity. False identity is the creation of a false identity non-existent person and to be issued with identity documents in that name.

Examples of identity theft include:

• Theft or loss of identification

• Social media hacking (e.g. personal data recovery)
• Sending personal documents to fake rental or employment ads
• Sending personal information to a false organization or administration
• Recovery of sensitive documents (bank statement, salary slips...) in the trash can

The spoofer can use the name and personal data the victim for, for example:

• Open an account and use the credit card or checkbook to make purchases
• Take out a credit in the victim's name and not pay it back
• Receive social assistance from the social security or the FCA
• Open a phone line
• Create social media accounts
• Make fake papers
• Commit an offense (e.g. incitement to violence, blackmail, cyberstalking under the identity of the victim)

The victim can verify that he or she has been the subject of identity theft by:

• Checking his bank statements
• Monitoring the receipt of tickets or fines and ensuring that she did not personally commit the offense (e.g., speeding)
• Checking whether accounts have been opened in his name on file of bank accounts and similar (Ficoba)
• Checking with the Banque de France that it is not registered on the Central Check File (CCF) or the Credit Reimbursement Incident File (FICP)
• Regularly typing his name into a search engine to see what information is circulating on the internet

In case of suspicion of identity theft, the victim may file a handrail for report the facts (loss of his identity document, sending personal documents to a false job advertisement...).

When the victim realizes thatthey use their name or personal data without their knowledge, she is victim identity theft. She can complain and notify relevant administrations and bodies.

Identity theft is a offense.

The penalty isone year in prison and €15,000 of fine.

This offense is punishable by the same penalties when committed on a social network.

Where such an offense is committed by the husband, on civil partnership partner or the common-law partner of the victim, the penalty shall be increased to 2 years imprisonment and €30,000 of fine.

Taking the name of a third party when committing a infringement which may lead to criminal proceedings shall be punishable by 5 years imprisonment and €75,000 of fine. For example, when a person is arrested with drugs and gives the name, address...of another person who is then summoned to court for trial.

To prevent identity theft, certain precautions can be taken, such as:

• SETTLE a anti-spam software, one anti-virus
• Put On regularly updated security devices, software or applications
• Use different passwords and complex for each site and application
• If you are unsure who sent a message, check website by manually entering its address (URL) in the browser
• Before throwing away sensitive documents (bank statements, salary slips, tax notices...), tear in such a way as to render them unreadable or impossible to reconstitute
• Add a note on the documents submitted (watermark) indicating the reason for the dispatch, the date and the consignee so that they are not re-used for fraudulent purposes
• Well done disconnect from all accounts when connecting to a computer or a public Wi-Fi network