What is Identity Theft?

Theft Statistics

• 54 billion. The amount Americans incurred in loss from identity theft in 2008.¹
• 500 million. The number of consumers from 2005 to 2009 whose personal and financial data has been exposed as a result of corporate data breaches—events the victims cannot control despite taking personal safety measures³
• 11.1 million. The number of adults in the U.S. who were victims of identity fraud last year, a 12% increase from the previous year and a 37% increase from the two years prior¹
• $5,000 dollars. The average fraud amount per victim is close to $5,000.⁶
• 400%. Victims who found out about their identity theft more than six months after it happened incurred costs four times higher than the average²
• 165 hours. The average amount of time spent by victims repairing the damage done by creation of new fraudulent accounts²
• 89%. The percentage of personal identity theft that occurs offline⁴
• 58 hours. The average amount of time spent by victims repairing the damage done to existing accounts²
• 43%. Percentage of identity theft occurring from a stolen wallet, checkbook, credit card, billing statement, or other physical document²
• 1 in 4. Number of American adults who have been notified by a business or organization that their information has been compromised due to a data breach¹
• 11%. The percentage of personal identities stolen using the Internet⁴
• 3 seconds. How often an identity is stolen.⁵

1. Javelin Research & Strategy. 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report
2. Identity Theft Research Center. Identity Theft: The Aftermath 2008
3. IdentityTheftInfo.com
4. Javelin Strategy & Research: 2009 Identity Fraud Survey Report: Identity Fraud on the Rise - Based on the 35% of victims who know how their information was accessed.
5. Based on Javelin Research & Strategy. 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report statistic that 11.1 million adults in the U.S. were victims of identity fraud in 2009.
6. Javelin Strategy & Research: 2009 Identity Fraud Survey Report: Identity Fraud on the Rise