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Recent Blog Posts
Common Misperceptions Regarding Illinois Marijuana Laws
Marijuana laws in the United States are changing rapidly. Currently, Washington D.C and eight states have legalized the sale and possession of marijuana for recreational purposes while many others, including Illinois, allow the consumption of cannabis as treatment for certain medical conditions. In Illinois, it is still illegal for those without a medical marijuana registration card to possess, purchase, use, or sell marijuana. There are many myths regarding marijuana and its legality which Illinois citizens should be aware of.
Myth 1: It Is Legal to Drive Under the Influence of Marijuana If You Are a Registered Medical User
Some people think that if they are in a state where recreational marijuana is legal or they have their medical marijuana ID card that they are able to smoke marijuana in a car. This is absolutely not the case. Although there has been considerably less research about the effects of marijuana use on driving abilities than the effects of alcohol impairment, it is still considered dangerous and reckless to drive under the influence of cannabis. [BW1]
Drug Dealer Peddling Elephant Tranquilizer Pleads Guilty
We have discussed the dangers of the synthetic opioid fentanyl in previous posts. The extremely potent substance is significantly stronger than heroin or morphine and is responsible for thousands of overdose deaths each year. Many individuals have died after using heroin which was secretly laced with fentanyl. Only three milligrams of the powder is enough to kill a grown man. The enormously unsafe nature of fentanyl has even led to legislation which allows drug dealers who sell fentanyl-laced products to be charged with homicide. However, a new synthetic opioid which is even more potent than fentanyl is now being discovered in homes across the United States, and lawmakers are responding sternly.
Carfentanil is a Deadly Synthetic Opioid
While fentanyl continues to be a massive public health concern, Carfentanil has even more sinister implications. The substance was originally engineered to be an elephant tranquilizer, but some people are now risking their lives by using it recreationally. The drug’s extreme toxicity has even provoked concerns that terrorists could use it as a weapon of mass destruction. Needless to say, law enforcement and legislators are paying close attention to this drug.
Fake IDs Not Worth the Risk in Illinois
Advances in digital technology have made producing and obtaining a false driver’s license or identification care easier than ever. Individuals under the age of 21, obviously, are the most likely try to use fake IDs to get into bars and nightclubs or to purchase alcohol. Fake IDs may also be created and obtained as part of larger identity theft schemes to illegally access a victim’s assets or accounts. Whatever their intended purpose, possession of a fraudulent identification card is prosecutable under law, and potential penalties in Illinois are among the most severe in the country.
What Constitutes a Fake ID?
An identification card that is passed off as an official identification card from any governmental or quasi-government organization that contains false or altered information is considered a "fraudulent identification card" under the Illinois Identification Card Act. A card need only resemble an official ID, or use the words "official," "state," "Illinois," or any other state name to be considered a fake ID.
A Brief Overview of Credit Card Fraud in Illinois
On almost a daily basis, ad campaigns and law enforcement groups remind the public about the dangers of falling victim to credit card fraud, but what if the tables were turned? Money was running low, and you desperately needed groceries. Using your friend's card may not have been the right thing to do, but in the moment, it felt like the only option.
However, now you are facing charges of fraud, and the money you spent could lead to you spending time behind bars. According to Illinois law, if you are convicted of credit card fraud, you could face fines of up to $10,000, and serve up to 20 years in prison depending on the nature of the offense.
What Constitutes Fraud?
Three Habits That Help Protect You From Internet Fraud
Scam artists, hackers, and identity thieves thrive on the Internet world to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Internet fraud and identity theft are serious crimes that do not discriminate; everyone is susceptible to becoming a victim. Protecting your mobile devices and computers as well as your electronic files is crucial to protecting your personal information, but it is easy to look past simple habits that can save that information from falling into the wrong hands.
Adopt the following three habits to safeguard yourself from internet theft:
Treat Your Personal Information Like Money in Your Wallet
This is easily one of the most effective ways you can ensure your information does not fall into the wrong hands. Keep your bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and social security number under lock and key and never share the information online unless you are certain what it is for, where it is going, and whether or not the source requesting it is legitimate. These numbers can all be used to open new accounts in your name or to steal your assets.
Fraudulent Credit Card Charges: Who Is Responsible?
Crimes that affect our wallets, bank accounts, and credit scores do more than interfere with our personal finances. They affect businesses and everyone depending on funds and income derived from those businesses. Advertising scams, internet fraud, and identity theft are not new crimes—they have been hurting consumers and business owners alike for years—but they do continue to evolve and increase in severity over time. One of the most prevalent and troublesome financial crimes today is credit card fraud, and the first thing that most consumers want to know when they discover they are victims of this theft is who will be held responsible.
Who Must Pay for Fraudulent Charges?
There are various Illinois state and federal consumer laws that address this issue in order to protect consumers victimized by credit card theft. For example, you are legally required to pay $50 per card, at most, in the event that someone steals and uses your credit cards. The moment you notify the bank or issuer of the card(s) that the card has been stolen, you are not legally required to pay for any unauthorized charges that incur after that notification.
How Effective Are Credit Card Theft Monitoring Programs?
Thanks to a steady increase in credit card fraud and identity theft in recent years, an intense need for additional protection has spawned for consumers of all kinds. Such security is particularly important for those who make purchases via the internet and through various mobile apps. Nowadays, it seems everyone shops on-line for purchases both small and large.
No one is immune to identity theft, especially when we live in a world where technology rules and our bank account information is more accessible than ever before. In some cases, individuals sometimes even find themselves accused of credit card theft crimes due to the fact that their name was tied to certain information, when in reality, they actually had nothing to do with the crime whatsoever.
How Do Monitoring Programs Protect You?
To combat the ongoing problem, most credit card companies offer complimentary credit card monitoring services when you open an account with them. Some companies charge a small fee, but all of the programs exist to alert you to any suspicious or fraudulent activity that may adversely affect your financial standing. While credit card theft monitoring programs cannot actually prevent theft altogether, they can offer a level of protection by bringing any suspicious activity to your attention right away so the theft can be addressed as quickly as possible.
White Collar Crime and the Role of the FBI
When you think about white collar crime, you may visualize the country’s top executives participating in unlawful actions and reaping a wide range of beneficial perks. This is understandable, to an extent due to a number of Hollywood box office hits such as The Wolf of Wall Street, Boiler Room, or Catch Me If You Can. In real life, many such crimes are handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), making white collar offenses like forgery and deceptive practices major issues.
As early as 1939, white collar crime—a term that refers to fraudulent actions committed by business government professionals—was characterized by deeds of deceit, concealment or a gross violation of trust but not through the application of threats, violence or physical force. Such actions are typically motivated by financial gain and the avoidance of financial loss.
Common Ways to Uncover Identity Theft Activity
Identity theft crimes involve using sensitive personal information to steal money or property in a variety of ways, often remaining undetected until the victim discovers inconsistencies in his or her financial records. By the time this happens, the damage is usually already done and may take a significant amount of time to repair. Even when victims discover fraudulent charges or accounts they never opened early on, a great deal of work may be necessary—along with more than a few headaches—to dispute the charges and restore their standing with a financial institution.
How Stolen Identities are Used
Using someone’s identity allows a thief to open new accounts under the victim’s name, make charges on his or her credit cards, and even make withdrawals from his or her bank accounts. Other common scenarios involve tax-related theft, where a person’s refund is stolen, or medical-related theft, where the victim’s identity is used to acquire medical treatment under his or her health insurance plan.
Fake IDs Can Have Very Real Consequences
A quick Google search for "fake IDs" returns over a million results. Many of the top search results are websites touting their business of manufacturing and distributing fake driver’s licenses and identification cards. The websites claim that their IDs "even fool experts!" and "pass blacklight tests!" With school is starting for most colleges, many young people will be tempted by the appeal of purchasing a fake ID. Students under the legal drinking age may be drawn by the possibility of being able to buy alcohol or to get into bars and nightclubs that are 21 and over. It may seem easy to get away with using a fake ID, but the reality is that obtaining or using a fake ID is a crime that can have very serious consequences.
Consequences of Buying or Using a Fake ID
The state of Illinois takes fake IDs very seriously. It is illegal to obtain, distribute, use or even possess a fraudulent state ID card or driver’s license, as well as to help anyone else do the same. The state has the authority to suspend or even revoke a person’s driving privileges if they are caught possessing another person’s license or state ID card. This can happen without a conviction.
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