losangelestimes OP t1_izfv3py wrote on December 8, 2022 at 8:21 PM

Reply to comment by yashwinacanter in I was the victim of an identity theft nightmare - and it could happen to you. AMA by losangelestimes

So, this story was about twice as long when I first filed it. For space reasons, and also to keep the narrative flowing, we had to cut a lot out.

I had originally written a lot more about my conversation with Shima Baughman, particularly her work on what she calls "the police myth": the belief that the law enforcement exists to control and solve crime. Statistically speaking, they do not. Certainly not for cyber crime, but also not really for traditional crime. Her work on clearance rates showed 97% of people who commit burglary are not held responsible for their crime by police.

I think identity theft and other cyber crimes are newer types of crime, and law enforcement - from the FBI down to local police - are more invested in violent and property crime. In my piece about potential solutions for identity theft, I wrote about how tracking cyber crime like those other types of crime would be a good start.

People need to make more noise about this. A lot of victims of identity theft and other cyber crimes - stalking and harassment, scams, revenge p*rn, etc - are ashamed. They blame themselves. Don't be. Reaching out to your representatives (over email, or even just tagging them on Twitter) and asking why the FBI doesn't track cyber crime is a good place to start.

jovahkaveeta t1_izh23ef wrote on December 9, 2022 at 1:26 AM

What do the cops do with all of our tax money?

givemeyours0ul t1_izhtj2t wrote on December 9, 2022 at 5:12 AM

Cosplay.

kingbane2 t1_izhwnhv wrote on December 9, 2022 at 5:43 AM

protect property. but not poor people's property. they'll work on violent crimes too, but even then that sometimes depends.

crazyjkass t1_izi2y93 wrote on December 9, 2022 at 6:55 AM

Protect capital.

jovahkaveeta t1_izhxt42 wrote on December 9, 2022 at 5:55 AM

Why don't we just go the way of private security detail and forgo the illusion that cops serve anyone else?

kingbane2 t1_izi1oj2 wrote on December 9, 2022 at 6:40 AM

you need the illusion that cops are there to help all of us, otherwise the masses might go anarchic, which isn't good for the rich.