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Identity theft is on the rise, with certain areas facing more severe issues than others. 24/7 Wall St. analyzed Federal Trade Commission data to highlight the states experiencing the highest identity theft rates.
They note that the numbers can vary significantly across states due to the different protective measures in place. Their methodology is also explained as follows:
To determine the 10 states with the most identity theft cases, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the 2015 FTC Sentinel Network Data Book, which compiles the total number of fraud complaints by state. These complaints are divided into two categories: identity theft and other types of fraud. The average amount stolen was also sourced from the FTC, while fines and penalties for identity theft in each state were drawn from the National Conference of State Legislatures.
States were ranked by per capita incidents, revealing that Missouri had the highest identity theft complaint rate: 22,164, equating to 364.3 complaints per 100,000 residents. The average stolen amount was $931. Connecticut and Florida also experienced significant numbers, with 225 and 217 complaints per 100,000 people, respectively.
Here are the top five states on the list:
1. Missouri
> Identity theft complaints per 100,000 residents: 364.3 > Total identity theft complaints: 22,164 (5th highest) > Fraud and other complaints per 100,000 residents: 609 (17th highest) > Average amount stolen: $931 (18th lowest)
2. Connecticut
> Identity theft complaints per 100,000 residents: 225.0 > Total identity theft complaints: 8,078 (18th highest) > Fraud and other complaints per 100,000 residents: 554 (22nd lowest) > Average amount stolen: $1,182 (11th highest)
3. Florida
> Identity theft complaints per 100,000 residents: 217.4 > Total identity theft complaints: 44,063 (2nd highest) > Fraud and other complaints per 100,000 residents: 1,510 (highest) > Average amount stolen: $1,050 (22nd highest)
4. Maryland
> Identity theft complaints per 100,000 residents: 183.2 > Total identity theft complaints: 11,006 (12th highest) > Fraud and other complaints per 100,000 residents: 749 (13th highest) > Average amount stolen: $973 (24th lowest)
5. Illinois
> Identity theft complaints per 100,000 residents: 158.7 > Total identity theft complaints: 20,414 (6th highest) > Fraud and other complaints per 100,000 residents: 517 (9th highest) > Average amount stolen: $907 (15th lowest)
The full list provides even more detailed information about each state. For further insights and to view the complete list, follow the link below.
Photo by GotCredit.
