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Monday, September 10, 2007 12:29 PM/EST
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Two research criminologists, Heith Copes of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Lynne Vieratis of the University of Texas at Dallas, have been studying the motives of identify thieves, and have developed five key characteristics of these virtual swindlers: |
Identity thieves are equally likely to come from working-class or middle-class backgrounds.
Nearly two-thirds had prior arrests. Of these, 26 percent were arrested for other identity thefts or frauds, 11 percent for drug use or sales and 13 percent for street-level property crimes.
Although most identity thieves devote little thought to getting caught, those who do perceive the risk of being caught as low and expect minimal punishment.
They are adept at justifying and excusing their crimes. "They do this by denying that they caused any real harm by claiming that they commit their crimes to help others," the researchers wrote. "Those who worked within identity theft rings or groups often deny responsibility by minimizing their roles and financial gains."
Identity thieves have developed skills to successfully accomplish their crimes and evade detection. The most crucial skills are social. "Identity thieves are often able to manipulate social situations through verbal and non-verbal communication," Copes and Vieratis wrote. "They also employ intuitive skills, giving them a sensitivity to and awareness of their surroundings and when they are at risk of detection." In addition, identity thieves possess technical skills to produce fraudulent documents and knowledge of how banks and credit agencies operate.
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