On October 1st, 2009 a new law was passed related to Identity Theft Penalties.  Anyone in Connecticut convicted of identity theft against a person over the age of 60 who removes more than $5,000 from a victim can be charged with first-degree identity theft, a Class B felony.  More and more people are embracing computers making identity theft one of the fastest growing crimes in the country.

 

The law allows the State of Connecticut to seize money that was obtained through an identity theft scam, thus allowing money to be recovered and returned to victims.

 

According to an article by The Hartford Courant "National statistics show that Connecticut ranks highest in New England for identity scams, prompting the changes. The statute of limitations will also be extended to three years, rather than two, to help victims file lawsuits against criminals who have stolen their identity. 'The statistics and the stories show that identity theft is a serious crime that can severely damage the reputation of its victims and cause long-lasting financial difficulties," said Sen. Thomas Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat who co-sponsored the law."