Identity theft is generally a financial crime that involves the use of illegally obtained information about another person—such as name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and credit card numbers—in order to use existing credit accounts or open new ones in the other person’s name. When this happens, criminals capture the spending power of another person’s credit while sticking the victims (individuals, financial institutions, merchants) with the bill.

Laws regarding identity theft vary from state to state in their naming, classification, and penalties—with criminal offenses such as “Unauthorized Acquisition or Transfer of Certain Financial Information,” “Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information,” “Unlawful Possession of Personal Identifying Information,” “Identity Theft,” “Identity Fraud,” “False Personation,” or “Criminal Impersonation.”

Laws related to identity theft are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Connecticut, identity theft is addressed under the Connecticut General Statutes, specifically in Title 53a - Penal Code, Chapter 952, which deals with various criminal offenses. The statutes define identity theft under different degrees based on the severity of the crime. For example, Connecticut law identifies first-degree identity theft as a Class B felony when the victim suffers a financial loss of over $10,000. Lesser degrees of identity theft, such as second and third-degree, involve smaller amounts of financial loss and are classified as Class C and D felonies, respectively. Additionally, Connecticut law also includes provisions for criminal impersonation, which is a Class A misdemeanor, and illegal use of a credit card, which is classified depending on the amount of money involved. Penalties for these crimes can include imprisonment, fines, and restitution. The state also provides for civil remedies, allowing victims to sue for damages incurred as a result of identity theft.