It might happen to you too. You get a call one fine day from a credit collection agency, demanding you to pay off all your dues amounting to huge bucks. Wait a minute; I don’t have a credit card! What the hell? And then, you realize that it’s too late. Someone used your name and credentials, applied for a credit card and then splurged on thousands of dollars in shopping. And mind you, credit card misuse is just one way of what is termed as Identity Theft. There are other ways like hijacking a person’s email account, stealing passwords or personal information and misusing them and much more.
So what’s identity theft all about?
Identity theft in short is a crime — it might also amount to cyber crime or hacking. In this type of crime, your personal information is wrongfully obtained and used in some way, which involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain. Unlike your fingerprints, which are unique to you and cannot be given to someone else for their use, your personal data — especially your Social Security number, your bank account or credit card number, your telephone calling card number, email account password, online shopping password and other valuable identifying data can be used, if they fall into the wrong hands, to personally profit at your expense.
There have been cases in the past where huge amounts of money were transferred from one bank account to another account, just because the person committing this crime happened to be the victim’s relative and came to know about the online banking password of the victim. So you see, it’s not just people who don’t know you committing crimes; even your own brother would do that — if he had an urgent need for money.
Types of Identity Theft
Identity theft can enter into many areas of our lives. It involves any instance where a person uses someone else's identification documents or other identifiers in order to impersonate that person for whatever reason. According to a survey conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, about 10 million people in the United States found out they were victims of identity theft in 2002. So, if it’s 10 million in the US alone, think about the rest of the world.
Identity Theft doesn’t need the criminal to be present near you all the time. It might happen through Internet too. The criminal might just send you an email, that looks like a genuine message from your bank asking you to submit your credit card number, ATM card pin number, online banking password, etc. - for “security” reasons. And you might unsuspectingly enter all the credentials, click on submit button and the website thanks you for entering all this information. But then, did you ever think even once, before submitting your credentials - why would your bank ask for your password, when it would already be present in their records. But, then it’s too late, since the criminal would now impersonate you and go on a shopping spree. He might even use your credit card number to subscribe himself to online erotica or pornographic websites. The crime he just committed is called Phishing.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Legalizing Crime
The state has a monopoly on behaviour usually deemed criminal. It murders, kidnaps, and locks up people. Sovereignty has come to be identified with the unbridled - and exclusive - exercise of violence. The emergence of modern international law has narrowed the field of permissible conduct. A sovereign can no longer commit genocide or ethnic cleansing with impunity, for instance.
Many acts - such as the waging of aggressive war, the mistreatment of minorities, the suppression of the freedom of association - hitherto sovereign privilege, have thankfully been criminalized. Many politicians, hitherto immune to international prosecution, are no longer so. Consider Yugoslavia's Milosevic and Chile's Pinochet.
But, the irony is that a similar trend of criminalization - within national legal systems - allows governments to oppress their citizenry to an extent previously unknown. Hitherto civil torts, permissible acts, and common behaviour patterns are routinely criminalized by legislators and regulators. Precious few are decriminalized.
Consider, for instance, the criminalization in the Economic Espionage Act (1996) of the misappropriation of trade secrets and the criminalization of the violation of copyrights in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (2000) – both in the USA. These used to be civil torts. They still are in many countries. Drug use, common behaviour in England only 50 years ago – is now criminal. The list goes on.
Criminal laws pertaining to property have malignantly proliferated and pervaded every economic and private interaction. The result is a bewildering multitude of laws, regulations statutes, and acts.
The average Babylonian could have memorizes and assimilated the Hammurabic code 37 centuries ago - it was short, simple, and intuitively just.
English criminal law - partly applicable in many of its former colonies, such as India, Pakistan, Canada, and Australia - is a mishmash of overlapping and contradictory statutes - some of these hundreds of years old - and court decisions, collectively known as "case law".
Despite the publishing of a Model Penal Code in 1962 by the American Law Institute, the criminal provisions of various states within the USA often conflict. The typical American can't hope to get acquainted with even a negligible fraction of his country's fiendishly complex and hopelessly brobdignagian criminal code. Such inevitable ignorance breeds criminal behaviour - sometimes inadvertently - and transforms many upright citizens into delinquents.
In the land of the free - the USA - close to 2 million adults are behind bars and another 4.5 million are on probation, most of them on drug charges. The costs of criminalization - both financial and social - are mind boggling. According to "The Economist", America's prison system cost it $54 billion a year - disregarding the price tag of law enforcement, the judiciary, lost product, and rehabilitation.
What constitutes a crime? A clear and consistent definition has yet to transpire.
There are five types of criminal behaviour: crimes against oneself, or "victimless crimes" (such as suicide, abortion, and the consumption of drugs), crimes against others (such as murder or mugging), crimes among consenting adults (such as incest, and in certain countries, homosexuality and euthanasia), crimes against collectives (such as treason, genocide, or ethnic cleansing), and crimes against the international community and world order (such as executing prisoners of war). The last two categories often overlap.
Many acts - such as the waging of aggressive war, the mistreatment of minorities, the suppression of the freedom of association - hitherto sovereign privilege, have thankfully been criminalized. Many politicians, hitherto immune to international prosecution, are no longer so. Consider Yugoslavia's Milosevic and Chile's Pinochet.
But, the irony is that a similar trend of criminalization - within national legal systems - allows governments to oppress their citizenry to an extent previously unknown. Hitherto civil torts, permissible acts, and common behaviour patterns are routinely criminalized by legislators and regulators. Precious few are decriminalized.
Consider, for instance, the criminalization in the Economic Espionage Act (1996) of the misappropriation of trade secrets and the criminalization of the violation of copyrights in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (2000) – both in the USA. These used to be civil torts. They still are in many countries. Drug use, common behaviour in England only 50 years ago – is now criminal. The list goes on.
Criminal laws pertaining to property have malignantly proliferated and pervaded every economic and private interaction. The result is a bewildering multitude of laws, regulations statutes, and acts.
The average Babylonian could have memorizes and assimilated the Hammurabic code 37 centuries ago - it was short, simple, and intuitively just.
English criminal law - partly applicable in many of its former colonies, such as India, Pakistan, Canada, and Australia - is a mishmash of overlapping and contradictory statutes - some of these hundreds of years old - and court decisions, collectively known as "case law".
Despite the publishing of a Model Penal Code in 1962 by the American Law Institute, the criminal provisions of various states within the USA often conflict. The typical American can't hope to get acquainted with even a negligible fraction of his country's fiendishly complex and hopelessly brobdignagian criminal code. Such inevitable ignorance breeds criminal behaviour - sometimes inadvertently - and transforms many upright citizens into delinquents.
In the land of the free - the USA - close to 2 million adults are behind bars and another 4.5 million are on probation, most of them on drug charges. The costs of criminalization - both financial and social - are mind boggling. According to "The Economist", America's prison system cost it $54 billion a year - disregarding the price tag of law enforcement, the judiciary, lost product, and rehabilitation.
What constitutes a crime? A clear and consistent definition has yet to transpire.
There are five types of criminal behaviour: crimes against oneself, or "victimless crimes" (such as suicide, abortion, and the consumption of drugs), crimes against others (such as murder or mugging), crimes among consenting adults (such as incest, and in certain countries, homosexuality and euthanasia), crimes against collectives (such as treason, genocide, or ethnic cleansing), and crimes against the international community and world order (such as executing prisoners of war). The last two categories often overlap.
White Collar Crime
White Collar Crimes are defined as non-violent acts committed by individuals or businesses in the course of daily working activity. Some of these crimes include embezzlement, bribery, tax evasion, false advertising and other types of fraud. They are generally used to obtain money, property or services to gain advantage in business or in ones personal life.
According to the FBI, white collar crimes cost the United States more than $300 billion annually. These crimes are considered to be federal offenses and even though state and local law enforcement may be involved in the cases, charges will most often be presented by federal agencies such as the FBI, IRS, US Customs, Secret Service, EPA or the SEC.
Penalties for white collar offenses generally include fines, house arrest, community confinement and sometimes imprisonment. Federal agencies will many times make mistakes when prosecuting these criminals. They routinely make mistakes that violate peoples constitutional and civil rights. That is why it’s so important to hire a lawyer if you’ve been charged with any of these types of crimes. Just going to trial can be enough to humiliate, embarrass and often time destroy the future of a growing business. It’s best to just settle these cases outside of the courtroom and protect the name of your business.
According to the FBI, white collar crimes cost the United States more than $300 billion annually. These crimes are considered to be federal offenses and even though state and local law enforcement may be involved in the cases, charges will most often be presented by federal agencies such as the FBI, IRS, US Customs, Secret Service, EPA or the SEC.
Penalties for white collar offenses generally include fines, house arrest, community confinement and sometimes imprisonment. Federal agencies will many times make mistakes when prosecuting these criminals. They routinely make mistakes that violate peoples constitutional and civil rights. That is why it’s so important to hire a lawyer if you’ve been charged with any of these types of crimes. Just going to trial can be enough to humiliate, embarrass and often time destroy the future of a growing business. It’s best to just settle these cases outside of the courtroom and protect the name of your business.
What Different Types Of Criminal Justice
If you are interested in pursuing a criminal justice degree with a specific focus, you have to first know the various types of degrees available.
Within the broad field of criminal justice you can get degrees in various specific fields. Some of these fields are: Corrections, Court Reporting, Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Justice administration, homeland security, Economic Crimes, Forensic sciences, Law, Law Enforcement, Legal Studies, Paralegal & Legal Assistant, Public Safety Management and Security & Loss Prevention.
You should collect information about the various online degrees being offered by various schools and pick the one you find most suitable. Following is a list of some of the more important types of criminal justice degrees available:
• Degrees in Criminal Justice
These degrees prepare students for a career in law and criminal justice:
Forensics
Justice administration
Legal services
Court reporting
• Degrees in Law Enforcement
These degrees prepare students for careers in policing and investigation:
Crime scene investigations
Law enforcement
Legal services
Paralegal & legal assistant
• Degrees in Correction Management
Within the broad field of criminal justice you can get degrees in various specific fields. Some of these fields are: Corrections, Court Reporting, Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Justice administration, homeland security, Economic Crimes, Forensic sciences, Law, Law Enforcement, Legal Studies, Paralegal & Legal Assistant, Public Safety Management and Security & Loss Prevention.
You should collect information about the various online degrees being offered by various schools and pick the one you find most suitable. Following is a list of some of the more important types of criminal justice degrees available:
• Degrees in Criminal Justice
These degrees prepare students for a career in law and criminal justice:
Forensics
Justice administration
Legal services
Court reporting
• Degrees in Law Enforcement
These degrees prepare students for careers in policing and investigation:
Crime scene investigations
Law enforcement
Legal services
Paralegal & legal assistant
• Degrees in Correction Management
How Not To Become a Victim of Crime
Did you know that every 90 seconds, somewhere in America someone is sexually assaulted? 17.6% of all women in the United States have survived a completed or attempted rape. Also, the National College Women Sexual Victimization Study estimated that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 college women experience completed or attempted rape during their college years. As you can see, there is a need for women to defend themselves.
The ideal way for women to protect themselves is by learning self defense skills. It does not require any tools and can be used in any situation at any time. However, most people do not have time to take a self defense course. One thing you can learn without taking the course is awareness. Just knowing that crimes happen all the time and that you could be a victim can already save your life. Once you are aware of that, the next is to equip yourself for the situation.
The fact that most men are physically stronger that women is unarguable. Women need a more efficient way to protect themselves against violent crime. They need something powerful and easy to use so they can take down someone who is bigger and stronger than them. Stun guns, Pepper Spray and TASERS might just do the job.
The cost is small for making yourself or your loved ones safe. As Little as $6.95 for Pepper Spray. Small stun guns start at $15.95.
Check out this Web Site: http://garyhillerstrikeback.com
They have all their self defense and home security items at very low Discounted Prices.
Don't become a statistic. Defend yourself. These items are non lethal, yet very effective in stopping anyone from hurting you or your Loved Ones.
The ideal way for women to protect themselves is by learning self defense skills. It does not require any tools and can be used in any situation at any time. However, most people do not have time to take a self defense course. One thing you can learn without taking the course is awareness. Just knowing that crimes happen all the time and that you could be a victim can already save your life. Once you are aware of that, the next is to equip yourself for the situation.
The fact that most men are physically stronger that women is unarguable. Women need a more efficient way to protect themselves against violent crime. They need something powerful and easy to use so they can take down someone who is bigger and stronger than them. Stun guns, Pepper Spray and TASERS might just do the job.
The cost is small for making yourself or your loved ones safe. As Little as $6.95 for Pepper Spray. Small stun guns start at $15.95.
Check out this Web Site: http://garyhillerstrikeback.com
They have all their self defense and home security items at very low Discounted Prices.
Don't become a statistic. Defend yourself. These items are non lethal, yet very effective in stopping anyone from hurting you or your Loved Ones.
What To Expect If You Are Charged With A Crime
Although most people never expect to be charged with a crime, there can come a time when that can happen. These types of charges can range form warrants being issued for aid traffic tickets to individuals filing lawsuits against you. The best time to prepare for being charged with a crime is before it ever happens.
Since lawsuits and arrests can move quickly, it is best to understand the basic events that lead up to and constitute being charged with a crime prior to the being charged. If you are knowledgeable about the events beforehand, the process can go easier and hopefully, be less intimidating.
No matter which type of crime you are charged with, the proceedings will usually happen in a predetermined way. First, a warrant will put for your arrest. If a warrant is issued against you, you will usually be notified of the warrant by being served. Being served means that a police officer will locate you and deliver your warrant papers in person. On rare occasions, a person is arrested before being served with a warrant. In these cases, the arresting officer must show the warrant papers within a reasonable amount of time after the arrest has been made.
After you have been arrested, you will be taken to the police station to be booked. Being booked means that you will be fingerprinted and a file will be opened regarding your case. After being booked, you will generally spend a short amount of time in jail while you await your initial hearing and arrange payment for bail.
While you are in jail, you are allowed to contact an attorney. Any person charged with a crime has the right to seek legal representation. It is very important that you at least meet with an attorney before your initial hearing. If you cannot afford an attorney, or you have not chosen an attorney yet, the court can and must appoint a lawyer for you.
During the initial hearing, you will be asked to make a plea of guilty, not guilty or no contest. Your attorney will advise you as to which plea is most favorable for your situation. Even if you are guilty you may opt to plead not guilty. Some defendant's choose to do this if they feel that the prosecutor does not have enough evidence against them to prove their case. If you plead not guilty, you will be given a trial in which it is the responsibility of the prosecution to prove your guilt. If you plead guilty or no contest, you will not be given a trail, rather you will go straight to a sentencing hearing.
If you are proven not guilty at your trial, you will be released from custody. If you are found guilty, you will be given a sentencing hearing.
A sentencing hearing is a hearing that allows all parties involved in your case to express the facts involving your case that may affect your sentence. These parties could include your accuser, yourself or persons who are defending your case.
After the hearing the judge will consider all evidence presented and then make a decision regarding your sentencing. Your sentencing could include additional jail time, monetary fines, community service or mandatory treatment programs. Depending on the severity of your crime, the evidence against you and your initial plea, the degree of sentencing could vary greatly. For smaller crimes, sentencing may only include a small fine and no jail time.
To insure that all of your rights are protected and that you receive the least sentencing possible, it is important that you hire a competent attorney and become knowledgeable about all of your rights.
Since lawsuits and arrests can move quickly, it is best to understand the basic events that lead up to and constitute being charged with a crime prior to the being charged. If you are knowledgeable about the events beforehand, the process can go easier and hopefully, be less intimidating.
No matter which type of crime you are charged with, the proceedings will usually happen in a predetermined way. First, a warrant will put for your arrest. If a warrant is issued against you, you will usually be notified of the warrant by being served. Being served means that a police officer will locate you and deliver your warrant papers in person. On rare occasions, a person is arrested before being served with a warrant. In these cases, the arresting officer must show the warrant papers within a reasonable amount of time after the arrest has been made.
After you have been arrested, you will be taken to the police station to be booked. Being booked means that you will be fingerprinted and a file will be opened regarding your case. After being booked, you will generally spend a short amount of time in jail while you await your initial hearing and arrange payment for bail.
While you are in jail, you are allowed to contact an attorney. Any person charged with a crime has the right to seek legal representation. It is very important that you at least meet with an attorney before your initial hearing. If you cannot afford an attorney, or you have not chosen an attorney yet, the court can and must appoint a lawyer for you.
During the initial hearing, you will be asked to make a plea of guilty, not guilty or no contest. Your attorney will advise you as to which plea is most favorable for your situation. Even if you are guilty you may opt to plead not guilty. Some defendant's choose to do this if they feel that the prosecutor does not have enough evidence against them to prove their case. If you plead not guilty, you will be given a trial in which it is the responsibility of the prosecution to prove your guilt. If you plead guilty or no contest, you will not be given a trail, rather you will go straight to a sentencing hearing.
If you are proven not guilty at your trial, you will be released from custody. If you are found guilty, you will be given a sentencing hearing.
A sentencing hearing is a hearing that allows all parties involved in your case to express the facts involving your case that may affect your sentence. These parties could include your accuser, yourself or persons who are defending your case.
After the hearing the judge will consider all evidence presented and then make a decision regarding your sentencing. Your sentencing could include additional jail time, monetary fines, community service or mandatory treatment programs. Depending on the severity of your crime, the evidence against you and your initial plea, the degree of sentencing could vary greatly. For smaller crimes, sentencing may only include a small fine and no jail time.
To insure that all of your rights are protected and that you receive the least sentencing possible, it is important that you hire a competent attorney and become knowledgeable about all of your rights.
Crime At Academy Awards
Hollywood reverted to type at this year’s Academy Awards, presenting its Oscar for best picture to yet another gangster movie, while passing over that rare production, a charming, if offbeat, piece of innocent merriment, Little Miss Sunshine.
Of course, there were militating factors. The members of the academy felt it was high-time to award at least one Oscar to one of its all-time leading directors of the lucrative gangster genre.
Yet it was a sad tale and, in fact, a crime to see Little Miss Sunshine robbed of the gold for the zany entertainment in which, we note, not a single gun was fired.
We can’t help but think it would have been far better to give Mr. Scorsese a lifetime achievement award and let the Oscar for best picture go to the sunny side of the street.
In the violence-weary world, the loss was enough to make one wish the lass who would be Little Miss Sunshine leaped up onto the stage and, as a protest, did a reprise of the surprising strip her grandfather taught her how to do – and, for his performance, won, as Alan Arkin, the award for best supporting actor.
Of course, there were militating factors. The members of the academy felt it was high-time to award at least one Oscar to one of its all-time leading directors of the lucrative gangster genre.
Yet it was a sad tale and, in fact, a crime to see Little Miss Sunshine robbed of the gold for the zany entertainment in which, we note, not a single gun was fired.
We can’t help but think it would have been far better to give Mr. Scorsese a lifetime achievement award and let the Oscar for best picture go to the sunny side of the street.
In the violence-weary world, the loss was enough to make one wish the lass who would be Little Miss Sunshine leaped up onto the stage and, as a protest, did a reprise of the surprising strip her grandfather taught her how to do – and, for his performance, won, as Alan Arkin, the award for best supporting actor.
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