Identity theft has become prevalent recently. Criminals reach into mailboxes when no one is looking to take credit card data. Some criminals are so brazen, they call people pretending to be a credit card company and convince people to release personal information. They sell stolen card numbers to a world of underground crime that spans around the globe.
Stealing mail is already a felony. Impersonating a credit officer is fraud. Each count of identity theft needs to be prosecuted so that these criminals pay to the highest extent of the law. It is only right that the criminals who perpetrate these crimes are severely punished, as it takes years for victims to financially recover from having their identity stolen. Additionally, federal laws need to be passed so that all credit card companies operate under the same regulations concerning how credit is offered. We especially need to inform people how to protect themselves from falling victim to identity theft.