U.S. Steps Up Efforts to Stop Identity Theft

The U.S. is cracking down on the theft of credit cards and Social Security numbers for obtaining loans and making purchases in the names of others, Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft said 73 criminal prosecutions were brought against 135 people in the last month. The identities of 500,000 to 700,000 Americans are stolen every year.

Ashcroft is working for legislation to better protect the public. Those convicted of “aggravated identity theft” would receive as much as two additional years in prison on top of other sentences.