In 2021-22: 8.1% of persons (1.7 million) experienced card fraud. 2.7% of persons (552,000) experienced a scam. 0.8% of persons (159,600) experienced identity theft.
Around 1 in 3 Americans have experienced identity theft (Proofpoint) According to recent data, approximately 33% of US citizens have been victims of identity theft at some point in their lives. That's more than double the global average.
This can happen through a variety of means, including hacking, fraud and trickery, phishing scams, mail theft, and data breaches. Data breaches are among the most common ways identity thieves collect personal data.
People ages 30 to 39 are most likely to get their identities stolen. 51% of victims of identity theft had an annual income of $75,000 or more. Caucasians made up 71% of all identity theft victims. 14% of the victims report they have lost more than $10,000 due to identity theft.
Nearly 40% of Americans believe that their stolen identity may have been used open a financial account [*]. Out of this, 12.7% are confident that they have been victims of identity theft. And, according to the latest Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data, there were 0.9 million reports of identity thefts in 2022 [*].
In 2021-22: 8.1% of persons (1.7 million) experienced card fraud. 2.7% of persons (552,000) experienced a scam. 0.8% of persons (159,600) experienced identity theft.
Identity thieves almost never get caught
In a study done in 2006, “only 1 in 700 identity theft suspects were arrested by federal authorities (0.14%).” Just to provide some perspective and comparison, 44.3% of violent crime suspects were arrested as well as 15.8% of alternative property crimes.
Bank fraud: New bank accounts, existing bank accounts and payment methods, such as debit cards, electronic fund transfers and automatic clearinghouse (ACH) payments, are a leading playground for identity thieves.
Contact your police department, report the crime and obtain a police report. Decide whether you want to place a security freeze on your credit report.
To get information related to your identity theft, send your request in writing to the company where the fraud took place. They have 30 days to give you those records, free of charge.
Most identity theft is perpetrated by a family member of the victim, and some may not be able to obtain new credit cards or open new bank accounts or loans.
Signs of identity theft
Unusual bills or charges that you don't recognise appear on your bank statement. Mail that you're expecting doesn't arrive. You get calls or texts about products and services you've never used.
Lodge a report through the Australian Cyber Security Centre's ReportCyber . For information about making a ReportCyber report, visit report a cybercrime. Visit the IDCARE website or call 1800 595 160. IDCARE provides free, confidential advice to Australians who have concerns about their identity or cyber security.
How fraudsters can steal your personal information. Most of us know the importance of making our passwords and PINs secure and keeping them out of fraudsters' hands. But even simple details such as your full name, date of birth and address can be used to commit identity fraud.
Identity thieves and fraudsters can use your personal information to take over your accounts, use your accounts, open new accounts, file tax returns or even get medical procedures in your name.
It's commonly believed that credulous senior citizens who lack technological sophistication are the primary targets of identity theft. Although it's undoubtedly true that seniors are vulnerable, identity theft is purely opportunistic, and youth offers no protection.
This is because each case of identity theft is unique, and the recovery timeline can depend on many factors, including the type of identity theft that took place. While some reports have found that combating identity theft can take up to 200 hours over six months, this number can vary.
Any of these pieces of information are fair game for identity thieves, though some are more valuable than others: SSN, date of birth, credit card numbers, driver's license number, Social Security card, passwords and usernames, rewards account numbers, and more.
Scammers can steal your identity by obtaining your personal financial information online, at the door or over the phone. What they want are account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information that they can use to loot your checking account or run up bills on your credit cards.
Can thieves steal identities with only a name and address? In short, the answer is “no.” Which is a good thing, as your name and address are in fact part of the public record. Anyone can get a hold of them. However, because they are public information, they are still tools that identity thieves can use.