| These facts and figures may shock you a bit but | | | | is about theft. |
| remember that it is more advantageous to have | | | | 6. The most common form of identity theft is credit |
| knowledge about identity theft as it would help you in | | | | card fraud. |
| the battle against it. Do not wait for those phone calls | | | | 7. 19% of identity theft cases involve utilities or phones. |
| to come reporting of unusual activities happening in | | | | 8. Bank frauds eat up 18% of the total 635,000 in |
| your accounts. | | | | cases of stolen identities. |
| 1. Based on studies by experts, more than half of the | | | | 9. The state where the crime is most likely to take |
| identity cases they have handled are done by people | | | | place is no other than Phoenix, Arizona. This is the |
| that a victim knows. These thieves usually turn out to | | | | state where the highest reports on identity theft can |
| be their friends, relatives, or officemates. | | | | be found. Next to it is Riverside, Ontario and third place |
| 2. In 2004, there has been 10 million reported case of | | | | is Las Vegas, |
| theft and the worse thing is that a big percentage of | | | | 10. The age group where the crime is most likely to |
| the cases took place OFFLINE. An 11.6 percent will | | | | attack is from the age bracket between 18-29 while |
| prove that it is not the time spent on one's computer | | | | those under the bracket of 60 and above is |
| that is hovering but the information we dish-out in our | | | | considered to be the safest. |
| everyday routine. | | | | The figures above are enough to prove that indeed, |
| 3. Early detection of identity theft will cost a victim | | | | identity theft is a serious crime and should never be |
| $500 and at least 30 hours on court trials. | | | | taken for granted. And because Experts believe that it |
| 4. There are at least 27 million Americans over the last | | | | is America's fastest growing and is also considered to |
| 5 years who have had experienced or was once | | | | be one of the most destructive crime, we should take |
| involved in stolen identity cases. Yes it is that rampant | | | | all necessary precautions. We should always be |
| and that is according to a study conducted by the | | | | aware where and to whom we give off our personal |
| Federal Trade Commission. | | | | information. We never know who is on the lookout for |
| 5. In the year 2004, there have been a total of 635,000 | | | | that information. Even the people we trust can be |
| complaints received by Federal Trade Commission | | | | suspects. |
| 61% of which is connected to fraud and 39% of which | | | | |