Are you worried about the increasing rate of identity theft cases in America? Well you should be. It is a pandemic that has continued to grow in number of cases and severity.
That being said, there is no point in being scared. There is really not much you can do about how these numbers are continuing to rise. But what you can do is learn about what the statistics have shown for this year and in the past.
That is why I have taken it upon myself to write this article. To show you some troubling identity theft statistics which will help you understand this threat.
With all of that being said, let us finally dive right in and start checking out these troubling identity theft statistics.
What's Ahead...
Identity Theft Statistics
1. Millions Of Americans Have Experienced Identity Theft
In the year 2021 the number of cases of identity fraud has only increased. Only four years ago this number was twice as small and back in 2021 it was less than 0.33 million Americans that had reported online identity theft.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
2. Of All Fraud Reports 25% Of That Is Identity Theft In America
Of all the fraud that takes place about 25% of that is identity fraud. In 2021, it was the most common variety of fraud and with over 1.4 million people in America experiencing identity theft you quickly understand why.
The next most common form of fraud was imposter scams which had about one million victims. If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
3. In 2021 The People Of America Reported $6.1 Billion In Fraud
Last year American citizens lost more than $6.1 billion dollars to identity theft and fraud. In short, more than seventy percent of losses occurred in the year 2021.
Below we have listed the rank, type of report, and number of reports for fraud:
- Identity Theft – 1,434,676
- Imposter Scams – 984,756
- Credit Bureaus – 592,928
- Online Shopping – 398,283
- Banks and Lenders – 195,370
- Debt Collectors – 151,335
- Prizes – 148,243
- Auto Related – 137,468
- Internet Services – 121,445
- Job Opportunities – 104,019
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
4. Identity Theft Happens Every Two Seconds
That is a shocking number, isn’t it? Well, it is true. There is a case of identity fraud every two seconds. This means that every two seconds someone’s personal information is stolen.
This may seem like a scary number but when you factor in all the different types of identity theft and types of fraud it is a very realistic number. If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
5. If You Are On Facebook, Instagram Or Snapchat You Are 46% More Likely To Experience Identity Theft or Fraud
This is no surprise. But when you have your whole life online it is so easy to find yourself more at risk for identity theft or fraud. In fact, having Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat then you are about 67% more likely to be a victim of identity theft and fraud.
This may not be the case for everyone and it certainly does not affect everyone but it is something to consider. If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
6. The Majority Of Identity Theft Reports Have Come From People That Are Thirty Or Older
This may come as a shock, but people that are aged between thirty and thirty-nine have reported identity theft.
This may be because people that are this age may have more than one social media account and work related accounts which makes it easier to report identity theft.
Of the 2.9 million fraud and identity theft reports about 26.4% of them are between the ages of thirty and forty.
Below we have listed the number of identity theft reports by age:
- 19 and Under – 22,833
- Between 20 and 29 – 191,334
- Between 30 and 39 – 308,910
- Between 40 and 49 – 266,269
- Between 50 and 59 – 206,514
- Between 60 and 69 – 118,093
- Between 70 and 79 – 45,068
- 80 and Over – 9,917
As you can see by these statistics there is a distinct difference in the age ranges. If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
7. Child Identity Theft Has Risen Up By 63%
Sadly children do not escape from the risk of identity fraud. There have been studies indicating that there are more than 1.3 million children whose records are stolen each and every year.
These studies have also indicated that foster children are also more at risk of identity theft.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
8. Public Wi-Fi Has The Potential To Have High Security Risks
It is not safe to be logged into personal accounts while you are logged into public Wi-Fi. It leaves all your information at risk of being stolen.
So, make sure to avoid being logged into any accounts, emails or have any sensitive data available if you are logged into public Wi-Fi.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
9. Account Take Over Losses Have Increased by 90%
Research has indicated that account takeovers have increased a lot since 2021. In fact, the amount of losses as a result of account take over has gone up by 90%.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
10. During The Covid-19 Pandemic 18 Million People Fell For Payment Scams
As if the pandemic was not bad enough it was also a platform which many scammers used to take advantage of the public. Studies have shown that there were at least 18 million victims of identity theft, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
11. For Accounts With A Balance Of $5000 Or More Cost Only $120 On The Dark Web
You might not want to know this but if you have $5000 or more in your accounts you can have your own sold on the dark web for $120.
The dark web market has only increased in size which means that criminals from anywhere can get details for account balances for a tiny sum.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
12. In The Shadow Economy European Union Passports Are Worth $3,800
Like bank details, passports from the European Union are worth a great deal on the dark web. In fact they are worth $3800.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
You would be surprised how many Americans share their passwords. This means that about 78% of Americans share their passwords with people that do not live in their homes.
But that is not the most worrisome part. Only 13% of adults thought that identity fraud was a real danger.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
14. On Average 23% Of Identity Fraud Victims Do Not Get Their Money Back
Identity theft has only grown but as the number of crimes grow so does the percentage of people that never get their money back.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
15. Most People In America Know An Identity Theft Victim
Identity theft has become so commonplace that the majority of Americans will actually know someone that has fallen victim to this new age crime.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
16. Identity Theft Does Not Discriminate Based on Income
You might think that identity theft will occur more for people that earn a higher income. But the statistics have indicated that the amount you earn has no correlation as to who will be a target.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
17. Cyber Crime Costs More than $6 Trillion Every Year
Cyber crime has only increased in frequency and cost as time has gone on. In fact, it now costs more than $6 trillion every year.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
18. Married Women as a Group Are at a Higher Risk of Identity Theft
You might think that your marital status does not have any impact on whether you are a target of identity theft or not. But we are here to tell you that it certainly does.
Statistics have shown that the majority of people that experience identity theft are Caucasian females with a college degree.
So if you are a married Caucasian woman with a college degree you should take special care when it comes to spotting identity theft threats.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
19. A Minimum of 10% of American Annual Health Budget is Lost as a Result of Fraud
There are more than two million Americans who have become victims of medical identity theft this year. The annual budget loss has been between three percent and ten percent which is approximately $300 billion lost every year.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
20. A Gmail Account that Has Been Hacked Sells for $65
Did you know that if your Gmail account has been hacked it can be sold for $65? Well it is true so make sure to keep your email secure.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
21. One Third of Identity Frauds Happen in America
America is the reigning champion of identity fraud. With about eleven billion dollars lost as a result of credit fraud every year and the number climbing it is no wonder that one third of identity theft cases occur in America.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
22. During the Pandemic Account Take Overs Tripled
When the coronavirus hit there was an increase in account take overs. In fact the number actually tripled. Statistics indicate that these numbers increased by 307%.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
23. The Number of Fraud Incidents is Still Rising
Fraud is only increasing in number. Sadly this cyber crime is only increasing and shows no signs of slowing down.
If you want to see more about these statistics make sure to check out this site.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section I am going to answer some of your most frequently asked questions so that you can better understand these identity theft statistics for 2022. So, without further ado let’s dive right in!
What Is Identity Theft?
Identity theft happens when someone tries to steal personal information or sensitive information in order to use for other crimes.
How Do You Know That You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft?
There are several things that you will see if you are a target of identity theft. If a banker or store retailer denies your credit. If your bank credit card statements are not recognized.
You have received calls from debt collectors. You have seen new accounts on your credit report that you do not recognize.
If any of these things are happening for you then you need to take steps to get it resolved.
What Are The Leading Causes Of Identity Theft?
Identity theft happens when personal data is stolen through hacking, data breaches, phishing, or other methods.
Once a criminal has your data they will then expose your information to do something illegal such as opening an account in your name or stealing your existing money.
Final Thoughts
Well, I hope that you found this article interesting and that you better understand identity theft statistics. It is always good to understand the threats that burden our modern world.
That is why I wrote this article in the first place. For you to better understand the threats associated with identity theft in 2022.
With all of that being said. I hope that you all have a wonderful day. Remember to do further research into this topic, there is tons of fascinating and troubling information out there for you to peruse. Have a great day. Goodbye for now!
Paul Martinez is the founder of BendingDestiny.com. He is an expert in the areas of finance, real estate, and eCommerce.Â
Join him on BendingDestiny.com to learn how to improve your financial life and excel in these areas. Before starting this blog, Paul built from scratch and managed two multi-million dollar companies. One in the real estate sector and one in the eCommerce sector.