U.S. Identity Theft Statistics

Whether involved in financial and personal transactions offline or online there is always the chance of getting your identity stolen. The statistics shown below may shock you, but it will also perhaps give you the “wake-up” call that you need.

This will help you further protect yourself so that no one will take advantage of you. In any event here is a list of some recent stats you might find appalling (from the year 2000 or later):

• Contrary to popular belief, though a fair share of identity crimes are committed online not all of them. In fact, only small percentages (approximately 11%) really are internet crimes. The rest are via traditional pick-pocketing and purse stealing, as well as via theft of personal documents.
• Over 71% of fraud usually takes place within a week or less of someone’s personal information being stolen. If it is the theft of a credit card usually the action takes place immediately.
• A majority of identity theft cases involve stolen credit cards, at about 26% of cases. The second highest cases involve stealing information to place utilities under another person’s name. About 18% of cases involve this action.
• Other cases involve the following actions: bank fraud at 17% (close second to utility fraud), employment fraud at 12%, and government fraud at 9%. Loan fraud percentages are not as high at only 5%, but nonetheless still significant.
• Another small percentage is other miscellaneous thefts involved misuse of personal and financial information. No matter what kind of crime it is as described above it is all still considered stealing.
• About 43% of cases are believed to be by someone a person knows. This in itself can be discouraging thinking you can trust people.
• About 12% of identity thieves are arrested. This probably seems like a low number right now but when laws are stricter it may be more.

What you Can Do?

Further action is now being taken to help protect identity theft victims. For instance, fraud alerts can be placed on your files if you notice any unauthorized activities on your accounts.

You can also stop any payments you did not make and you can be careful with which online vendor you do business. Furthermore, if you notice a credit card or debit card or checkbook missing and you cannot find it say within a few hours report it lost or stolen immediately.

The bottom line is be very careful who you can trust. You never know who may take advantage of you.