The Department of Homeland Security is launching a criminal investigation focused on alleged voter fraud in multiple states, including Wisconsin, according to a report from CNN.
According to internal federal guidance cited by CNN, the investigative “surge” will take place in nine states beginning on Tuesday and run until mid-October.
That probe comes ahead of November’s elections, which will determine control of Congress. Sinceree Dixon, a spokesperson for Wisconsin’s League of Women Voters, said the timing is concerning.
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Identity theft is the “foundational” fraud upon which many other crimes are built. It involves the unauthorized acquisition and use of a person’s personal identifying information (PII), such as an ID number, Social Security number, or passport details.
- How it works: Fraudsters obtain PII through data breaches, mail theft, or “social engineering” (tricking people into revealing details). Once they have this data, they can open new bank accounts, apply for credit cards or loans, and even receive medical treatment under your name.
- Synthetic Identity Fraud: A sophisticated variation where criminals combine real and fabricated information to create a completely new, “synthetic” person. This is particularly difficult to detect because there is no single victim to report the suspicious activity initially.