What are the statistics of identity theft?
Here are the top ten statistics we found that stood out from the various reports and studies we read: There were nearly 1.4 million reported cases of identity theft in 2020, with nearly one-third of those having been victims of identity theft before. Identity theft increased 53% from 2019 to 2020.
How often does identity theft occur?
Identity theft affects about 1 in 20 American each year. According to Javelin’s 2020 Identity Fraud Survey, 13 million consumers in the U.S. were affected by identity fraud in 2019 with total fraud losses of nearly $17 billion.
Is identity theft a rare occurrence?
Nearly 60 million Americans have been affected by identity theft, according to a 2018 online survey by The Harris Poll. That same survey indicates nearly 15 million consumers experienced identity theft in 2017. So, yes, the crime of identity theft is relatively common.
What is the leading cause of identity theft?
Among the leading causes of identity theft, data breaches stand out as they can rapidly impact a massive group of people. Consider the 2013 Target incident, where hackers gained access to the credit card information of millions of shoppers at the major national retailer.
What are four methods of stealing a person’s identity?
Learn 11 of the most common ways of identity theft can happen.
- Phishing. Scammers often use phishing emails to trick victims into providing personal or financial information.
- Smishing.
- Vishing.
- Fake Websites.
- Impersonation Scams or Confidence Fraud.
- Data Breaches.
- Skimming.
- Public Wi-Fi and USB Charging Stations.
What is the most common cause of identity theft?
How do you detect identity theft?
Call the police. You should immediately contact the police to report the identity theft. Provide them with all of the information requested. Get a copy of the police report, as you will need to share it with different entities, like the IRS or your bank.
How do I report identity theft?
File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Get a copy of the police report in case the bank, credit card company or others need proof of the crime.
What can you do to deter identity theft?
Identity theft is a real and growing concern. Your best defense is to prepare before it happens. Deter. The first step is to deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information. Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them. Protect your Social Security number.
How to investigate identity theft?
Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov and file a police report with your local law enforcement agency.