Identity theft

570.223. Identity theft — penalty — restitution — other civil remedies available — exempted activities. — 1. A person commits the offense of identity theft if he or she knowingly and with the intent to deceive or defraud obtains, possesses, transfers, uses, or attempts to obtain, transfer or use, one or more means of identification not lawfully issued for his or her use.

2. The offense of identity theft is a class B misdemeanor unless the identity theft results in the theft or appropriation of credit, money, goods, services, or other property:

(1) Not exceeding seven hundred fifty dollars in value, in which case it is a class A misdemeanor;

(2) Exceeding seven hundred fifty dollars and not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars in value, in which case it is a class D felony;

(3) Exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars and not exceeding seventy-five thousand dollars in value, in which case it is a class C felony;

(4) Exceeding seventy-five thousand dollars in value, in which case it is a class B felony.

3. In addition to the provisions of subsection 2 of this section, the court may order that the defendant make restitution to any victim of the offense. Restitution may include payment for any costs, including attorney fees, incurred by the victim:

(1) In clearing the credit history or credit rating of the victim; and

(2) In connection with any civil or administrative proceeding to satisfy any debt, lien, or other obligation of the victim arising from the actions of the defendant.

4. In addition to the criminal penalties in subsections 2 and 3 of this section, any person who commits an act made unlawful by subsection 1 of this section shall be liable to the person to whom the identifying information belonged for civil damages of up to five thousand dollars for each incident, or three times the amount of actual damages, whichever amount is greater. A person damaged as set forth in subsection 1 of this section may also institute a civil action to enjoin and restrain future acts that would constitute a violation of subsection 1 of this section. The court, in an action brought under this subsection, may award reasonable attorneys' fees to the plaintiff.

5. If the identifying information of a deceased person is used in a manner made unlawful by subsection 1 of this section, the deceased person's estate shall have the right to recover damages pursuant to subsection 4 of this section.

6. Civil actions under this section must be brought within five years from the date on which the identity of the wrongdoer was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.

7. Civil action pursuant to this section does not depend on whether a criminal prosecution has been or will be instituted for the acts that are the subject of the civil action. The rights and remedies provided by this section are in addition to any other rights and remedies provided by law.

8. This section and section 570.224 shall not apply to the following activities:

(1) A person obtains the identity of another person to misrepresent his or her age for the sole purpose of obtaining alcoholic beverages, tobacco, going to a gaming establishment, or another privilege denied to minors;

(2) A person obtains means of identification or information in the course of a bona fide consumer or commercial transaction;

(3) A person exercises, in good faith, a security interest or right of offset by a creditor or financial institution;

(4) A person complies, in good faith, with any warrant, court order, levy, garnishment, attachment, or other judicial or administrative order, decree, or directive, when any party is required to do so;

(5) A person is otherwise authorized by law to engage in the conduct that is the subject of the prosecution.

9. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection 2 of this section, every person who has previously been found guilty of identity theft or attempted identity theft, and who subsequently is found guilty of identity theft or attempted identity theft of credit, money, goods, services, or other property not exceeding seven hundred fifty dollars in value is guilty of a class E felony and shall be punished accordingly.

10. If credit, property, or services are obtained by two or more acts from the same person or location, or from different persons by two or more acts which occur in approximately the same location or time period so that the identity thefts are attributable to a single scheme, plan, or conspiracy, the acts may be considered as a single identity theft and the value may be the total value of all credit, property, and services involved.