Nearly Two out of three ID theft victims do not know source of crime, according to Identity theft assistance center survey
A survey of more than 1,500 identity theft victims shows that approximately three out of four, or 72%, do not know the source of the crime, according to ITAC, the Identity Theft Assistance Center.
“Your best bet is to treat your personal information as you do your personal safety – like buckling your seat belt. Keep data in your home and workplace in a secure location, keep your anti-virus software, browser and operating system updated, and monitor your accounts online for unusual activity.” -Anne Wallace President of ITAC
“We may see these anonymous sources grow since criminals use stolen consumer data as currency and are becoming more targeted and organized,” said Michael Stanfield, chairman and CEO of Intersections Inc., a leading global provider of consumer and corporate identity risk management services.
Of the 1,530 victims helped by ITAC, twenty-eight percent said they knew the source of the crime.
- Most cases (26.5%) stem from friends, relatives and in-home employees who have access to personal information
- Followed by computer-related identity crime (21.6%).
- Lost/stolen wallet, checkbook or credit card accounts for 15.1%
- Corrupt businesses or employees also at (11.6%).
- And breaches of consumer data accounted for 4.7% of the cases.
