About This E-Pub

Identity theft and financial fraud are rapidly growing and increasingly common crimes, but relatively few resources exist to prepare victim service providers to help victims of these crimes. Although identity theft is considered a nonviolent crime, victims often report that they suffer trauma similar in intensity to that of violent crime—feeling violated, confused about how to get help, and no longer in control of their lives. Added to this emotional trauma is the burden of having to prove one’s innocence.

Traditional VOCA-funded programs have not included victims of identity theft and fraud. And victim service providers do not commonly offer services to these victims due to lack of available training, limited funding, and/or failure to recognize the seriousness of this type of victimization.

To help address this situation, OVC provided funding to four grantees for establishing or expanding victim services to victims of identity theft and fraud, including setting up program infrastructure, training volunteers and staff, and public outreach. Each of the grantees offered many self-help materials to enable victims to become better advocates for themselves. This e-publication showcases the efforts of the Identity Theft Resource Center; the Victims Initiative for Counseling, Advocacy, and Restoration of the Southwest; the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc.; and Atlanta Victim Assistance to develop or expand their services to victims of identity theft. It also offers practical guidance to other victim service providers seeking to provide similar services.