Identity theft is on the rise. It can happen to anyone. It can especially happen to people who do really stupid things with their personal information like “not protect it.”
In fairness, even people who go through painstaking lengths to keep their identity safe still fall victim. There’s only such much a person could do besides, die but even dead, people can steal your identity.
The website 24/7 Wall Street broke down all of the FTC’s findings from 2015 to compile a list of the states where identity theft happens most frequently.
Here’s how they compiled the numbers:
“The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network received more than 3 million consumer complaints in 2015, 16% of which were identity theft complaints. Scams involving government documents, such as when a social security is stolen to file a fraudulent tax return, were the most common method of identity theft, followed by credit card fraud. Credit card fraud involves criminals using another person’s credit card to make purchases or using another person’s information to open credit card accounts.”
Before diving into the top five, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the states that came so, so close.
10. California
9. New Hampshire
8. Texas
7. Georgia
6. Michigan
Better luck next year, states.
And now, your top five…
5. Illinois
– Identity theft complaints per 100,000: 158.7
– Total identity theft complaints: 20,414 (6th highest)
– Fraud and other complaints per 100,000: 517 (9th highest)
– Avg. amount stolen: $907 (15th lowest)
4. Maryland
– Identity theft complaints per 100,000: 183.2
– Total identity theft complaints: 11,006 (12th highest)
– Fraud and other complaints per 100,000: 749 (13th highest)
– Avg. amount stolen: $973 (24th lowest)
3. Florida
– Identity theft complaints per 100,000: 217.4
– Total identity theft complaints: 44,063 (2nd highest)
– Fraud and other complaints per 100,000: 1,510 (the highest)
– Avg. amount stolen: $1,050 (22nd highest)
2. Connecticut
– Identity theft complaints per 100,000: 225.0
– Total identity theft complaints: 8,078 (18th highest)
– Fraud and other complaints per 100,000: 554 (22nd lowest)
– Avg. amount stolen: $1,182 (11th highest)
1. Missouri
– Identity theft complaints per 100,000: 364.3
– Total identity theft complaints: 22,164 (5th highest)
– Fraud and other complaints per 100,000: 609 (17th highest)
– Avg. amount stolen: $931 (18th lowest)
Congrats to all the states that ranked in the top ten and better luck next year to all those states who pay closer attention to their personal information.
[via 24/7 Wall Street]