Victims' rights advocates have persuaded Congress to allow money from a special fund for crime victims to be used to help those injured by economic crimes. New uses of technology, especially the Internet, have contributed to a shift from defrauding institutions such as savings and loan associations or the overall stock market to defrauding individuals. The crimes range from securities frauds to sweepstakes schemes to identity theft-using someone's Social Security number or other personal data to apply for credit cards, loans or even fake driver's licenses. Victims have also begun to insist on their right to participate in court proceedings, and have set up self-help groups, including at least one for people whose credit records have been ruined by charge-card thieves. The National Center for Victims of Crime has set up a special association for lawyers who specialize in representing crime victims who turn to civil courts to attempt to recover money after they have been defrauded.