Who is most likely to become a victim of identity theft?

Most Affected Groups

Consumers between the ages of 40 and 69 are reporting identity theft at higher rates, suggesting a growing awareness of this crime—and vulnerability.

Who are the typical victims of identity theft?

Seniors over 60 years old are the most common victims of identity theft. 3 in 10 victims of identity theft have experienced it more than once. 1 in 50 children is affected by child identity fraud, which costs U.S. families nearly $1 billion each year. Millennials account for 44% of U.S. identity fraud reports.

Which age group is the most targeted group for identity theft?

In 2020, the most targeted age group for identity theft were 30 to 39 year olds, among whom 306,090 cases were reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States. The second most targeted age group were those aged 40 to 49, with 302,678 cases of identity theft reported.

What segment of the population are the most common victims of identity theft?

Based on the 2016 survey, more females (13.5 million) experienced identity theft than males (12.5 million). However, males and females had similar identity-theft prevalence rates (10% each). Whites (12%) had a higher prevalence of identity theft than blacks (7%), Hispanics (6%), and persons of other races (8%).

How likely is it to get your identity stolen?

What are the odds of being a victim of identity theft? Studies have found that 4.5% of people in the US become victims of identity fraud every year. Americans are much more likely to have their identity stolen when compared to other people. One million children also become victims of fraud crimes every year.

Experian talks… Supporting victims of identity fraud

Who are the main victims of cybercrime?

Contrary to many Hollywood depictions, the main victims of cybercrime are seldom the wealthy and powerful with deep bank accounts ripe to be emptied by clever hackers and digital grifters. It's the disenfranchised minorities - people of color, Indigenous groups - and women that cybercriminals are mostly after.

Why teens are at risk for identity theft?

Teens are vulnerable to Identity Theft because of their frequent activity on the Internet. Sharing personal information on blogs or social networking sites such as Facebook, Friendster, or MySpace without considering who may get access to the information is risky.

Which type identity thefts rank the highest by percentage?

How many victims of identity theft are there?

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. Married women are the most common victims of identity theft.

What are the 5 most common types of identity theft?

Why are the elderly often victims of identity theft?

“The elderly are prime targets for identity thieves because they are often easy to trick into providing personal information over the phone or in response to an email that can be used to make them victims of identity theft,” says Steven J.J.

How many people are victims of identity theft every year?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have had their identities stolen each year. By learning about this issue, you can learn crime prevention tips as well as learn what to do if you become a victim.

What is the most common method used to steal your identity?

The most common way an identity thief can acquire information from a person is from stealing their purse or wallet and an identity thief may take a person's personal information from the internet.

How many teens are victims of identity theft?

According to a 2018 study performed by Javelin Strategy & Research, two-thirds of all identity theft victims are under the age of 8. Roughly 20% are between the ages of 8 and 12. Children are ripe for this type of fraud, and the experts estimate that 1 million children are victims of identity fraud every year.

Can identity theft happen to a minor?

Adults are not the only targets of identity theft. In fact, children under the age of 18 can also become victims. Child identity theft happens when someone uses a minor child's personal information, such as name and Social Security number, usually to obtain credit or employment.

How can teens protect themselves from identity theft?

Teach them from a young age to never share passwords, even with trusted friends, and to keep private certain confidential items including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank and credit card information.

Who are perpetrators in cyber crime?

The perpetrator of a digital crime is anyone who actively seeks to exploit weaknesses in technology for illegal purposes. In some cases, a hacker's target and victim are one and the same.

What is the most common cybercrime?

According to a recent FBI report on internet crime, more than 300,000 Americans fell victim to phishing, vishing and smishing attacks last year, making it the most common type of cyber crime.

Who should be blamed for cyber crime?

These actions can include gaining unauthorised access, stealing or altering data, or any other abuse of a network and its resources. The cyber-criminals are responsible for their illegal actions and, in most people's minds, should shoulder all the blame.

What are the three most common acts of identity theft?

The three most common types of identity theft are financial, medical and online.

Can my identity be stolen with my name and date of birth?

Unfortunately, an ID fraudster can use your birthday as a piece of the puzzle to capture your identity and commit identity theft. Fraudsters need just three key bits of information to steal your identity and access your accounts, take out loans, credit cards, mobile phones in your name.

How does someone take your identity?

There are a number of ways identity thieves may obtain your personal information. Fraudsters may dig through mail or trash in search of credit card or bank statements. Unsecured web sites or public Wi-Fi may allow identity thieves to access your information electronically.

Why identity theft is the fastest growing crime?

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the country. It occurs when someone obtains credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, bank account information or other personal identification information and uses them to commit fraud or deception.

How often do identity thieves get caught?

Are identity thieves ever caught? Identity theft statistics for 2020 are not available yet; however, 2006 research showed that federal authorities arrest only 0.14% of the criminals (one person in 700 identity theft suspects).