Identity Theft Statistics

In this age of information, new types of crimes are developing. Identity theft is the most frequently committed white collar crime in the United States today. Identity theft is defined as fraudulent acquisition of money, credit, goods, or services by pretending to be someone else. According to the Federal Trade Commission, one in six American citizens can expect to be victims of identity theft this year alone.

Function

Identity thieves obtain their victims' personal information in various ways. They may steal mail from your mailbox or garbage can, look over your shoulder at the ATM machine, or steal information from your computer in a number off ways. Other thieves may use a technique called phishing, in which they send you fraudulent e-mails, requesting personal information. Another popular technique is offering a fake employment opportunity. In this case, the application you fill out for this "job" is actually all the personal information a thief needs to steal your identity.

Significance

In the last year, almost ten million Americans were the victims of some type of identity theft (up from just over eight million the previous year.) Their losses totaled more than fifty-two million dollars, according to recent data released by the FBI. Thirty-eight percent find out within the first three months, which enables them to resolve the problem in a reasonable amount of time; however, up to eighteen percent don't find out for four years or longer. Clearly, this makes the resolution process much more complicated and lengthy.

Effects

Identity theft has lasting effects on its victims. Forty-seven percent say that they have trouble getting credit, while eleven percent say it causes difficulties in obtaining employment. A full seventy percent say that they experience trouble getting the false information removed from their credit reports. Forty percent say their families experience emotional and personal struggles following identity theft. This may be because forty five percent experience denial and disbelief, eighty five percent are angry, forty five percent feel "defiled," and forty-two percent feel they can't trust anyone after becoming victims.

Types

According to the Federal Trade Commission's recent report, more than half the time, victims knew the offenders who stole their identities--they were friends, co-workers or employees, neighbors, and even family members. In fact, identity theft is often committed by parents against their own children. Sixteen percent of identity theft is committed by one spouse against the other. These cases are often domestic abuse situations as well, in which the offender dominates every aspect of the victim's life--including the financial one.

Misconceptions

Some people think that everyone knows better than to give out their personal information via email or to someone they don't know, but according to a study done by the University of Indiana, fourteen percent of phishing emails are successful, allowing identity thieves access to the personal information of their victims. In the study, traceable "phishing" emails were sent to potential victims, featuring a link to eBay. While the link in the test indeed took them to eBay (as they weren't actually "phishing") notification data was recorded when it was clicked. This number is exceptionally higher than the three percent stated by Gartner, Inc. in a similar report.

Resources

• Identity Theft Statistics by State
• Federal Trade Commission's Website
• More Identity Theft Statistics