Idaho Identity Theft Laws

Using our smart phones and computers to do business is convenient, but with that added convenience comes a need to be more careful. Exposing our personal information online can increase the risk of identity theft. Lucky for us, the Gem State has statutes designed to protect citizens from identity theft and punish identity thieves. Here are the basics of identity theft laws in Idaho.

Identity Theft Laws

Identity theft is legally defined as one person using another personâ€™s identifying information for financial gain. To this end, identity thieves are always on the lookout for your name, date of birth, Social Security number, driverâ€™s license number, and anything else they can use to gain access to money. Identity theft in Idaho is a felony if the loss exceeds $3,000 and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $50,000 in fines.

Idaho Identity Theft Statutes

The chart below highlights Idahoâ€™s identity theft statutes.

Code Section	Idaho Statutes 18-3126, et seq.: Misappropriation of Personal Identifying Information
Classification of Crime/Penalties	Identity theft is a criminal offense; Misdemeanor, fine up to $1,000 or up to 1 yr. in county jail or both; Felony if loss exceeds $300, fine up to $50,000 or max. of 5 yrs. in prison or both
Who May Prosecute	Any prosecuting authority
Exemptions to Identity Theft Laws	-
Civil Lawsuit Allowed?	-
Civil Remedies Available	-
Misc.	-

While Idahoâ€™s identity theft laws are a great, they can only punish a crime after it occurs. Therefore, itâ€™s up to you to protect yourself against identity theft:

Read your credit card statements, bank account statements, and any government statements carefully to check for irregular activity.
Shred your bills and credit card offers before throwing them away.
Monitor your credit report for any posted credit activity.
Make your passwords hard to guess by using numbers, capital and lower case letters, and even symbols, and change them frequently.
Don't use the same password for all your accounts.
Be wary of providing your social security number and other personal information over the phone.

FindLawâ€™s Consumer Protection section has more information on how to protect you from identity theft.

Related Resources for Idaho Identity Theft Laws

State identity theft laws can be confusing as the scams they prohibit. FindLaw's sections on Identity Theft Basics and Stolen Identity can provide you with further articles and information on this topic. If you would like legal assistance with an identity theft matter, you can consult with an experienced Idaho consumer protection attorney in your area.