Here are a couple of stories that will make your blood boil:
Huge identity theft ring busted Identity Theft Ring Leader Gets Only 5 Years at Sentencing Car Salesman Convicted Of Identity Theft - News Story - WESH Orlando CB resident convicted in ID theft ring
These stories a just the drop in the bucket. As you review the articles, pay attention to the sentencing of the defendants and compare to this:
Time Served by Criminals Sentenced to Florida's Prisons - Section 2: Violent Crimes
You can spend more time in prison by robbing a convenience store for $100 in chump change than by stealing the identities of several victims and racking up hundres of thousands in theft. Doing the math, the payoff is higher for stealing identities and the consequences are lower.