In Tennessee, identity theft is considered a Felony crime. It is a malicious act where an individual’s personal information is fraudulently obtained and used by someone else without consent, often for financial gain. It involves stealing and exploiting sensitive details such as Social Security numbers, credit card information, bank account numbers, and passwords.

Perpetrators engage in various methods, including phishing emails, data breaches, skimming devices, and online scams, to acquire personal data and “steal identities.”

Once in possession of the stolen information, identity thieves assume the victim’s identity to commit a range of crimes, such as opening fraudulent bank accounts, obtaining credit cards, applying for loans, or making unauthorized purchases. Victims are left with extensive financial losses and damaged credit scores.

Tennessee law recognizes that while banks, financial institutions, and businesses are also victims, the person whose identity is stolen “suffers definite and measurable losses and also suffers immeasurable damages such as stress and anxiety as well as possible health problems resulting from or aggravated by the offense.”