15% of Americans Robbed of Identity; 85% Expect It According to a survey of 500 Americans, conducted online by InsightExpress, 15% of Americans have been a victim of identity theft with
one-third having had a friend or family member victimized. An overwhelming majority of Americans (85%) are concerned that identity theft could happen to them, while almost three out of five (59%) are
actively taking measures to protect themselves.
Americans say the online purchasing environment carries the greatest risk of identity theft (37%) followed by telephone purchases (34%) and
in-person purchases (10%). Americans' anxiety over identity theft doesn't stop with credit card purchases, as they cite ways they feel they could be victimized:
Ways Americans Think Identity
Theft Could Happen to Them
| Percent of Americans Agreeing Stolen wallet | 86% |
| Accessing a credit card number on the Internet | 65% |
| Identifying information on Internet sources | 64% |
| Stolen mail from an unlocked mailbox | 64% |
| Dumpster diving in trash bins for un-shredded documents | 58% |
| Fraudulently accessing credit reports | 56% |
| Obtaining your name and Social Security Number
from personnel or customer files in the workplace | 54% |
| Shoulder surfing at ATM to capture PIN numbers | 46% |
Citing both financial implications and the general nuisance factor as the key pain points, Americans actively trying to prevent identity theft are
taking the following steps:
Steps Taken by Americans Actively Trying to Prevent Identity Theft
| Percent Actively
Trying Avoid giving my social security number out | 87% |
| Shred or destroy bank and/or credit card information | 83%
|
| Shred or destroy any credit card or other direct mail offers | 81% |
| Create passwords containing numbers and
letters | 61% |
| Avoid buying or making donations via the phone | 58% |
| Only purchase
goods online from a reputable Website | 56% |
| Install a computer firewall at home | 52% |
| Read the privacy statements and/or bank liability clauses | 50% |
| Check my credit report more frequently | 38%
|
| Only use one credit card for purchases | 31% |
| Avoid shopping online | 31% |
| Avoid using my debit/check-cashing card for purchases | 20% |
| Subscribe to an identity theft protection program | 11% |
In terms of liability:
- 48% of consumers expect that they would be at least partly responsible for charges made on their credit card
should they become a victim.
- 58% say the person who stole the card is responsible, followed by the
- 33% think the institution who issues the card is responsible
- 29% say the
institution that approves the credit card charge is liable
- 26% think the merchants are responsible
You can find out more here.