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Identity Theft Survey Report 2003 - How victims discovered ID Theft. · The most common way victims discovered the misuse of their personal information was by
monitoring the activity in their accounts. This includes examining monthly statements from
banks and Credit Card issuers. 52% of all victims cited this as the way they first found out
they were victims of Identity Theft. A) Monitoring account activity was cited as the way 62% of victims who only experienced the “Misuse of Existing Credit Cards or Account Numbers” discovered
that they had been victimized. B) Victims of the “Misuse of Existing Non-Credit Card Account” ID Theft cited this as how they discovered the misuse in 57% of cases. C) Victims of “New Accounts & Other Frauds” ID Theft discovered the misuse of their information by monitoring accounts in only 39% of cases.
· Companies such as banks, Credit Card issuers, or other vendors first notified one-quarter of
all Identity Theft victims of the misuse of their information after noticing suspicious account
activity. A) Being notified by a bank or Credit Card company was cited by 20% of victims whose
ID Theft experience was limited to the misuse of existing accounts – whether credit
cards or other accounts. B) Notification by a bank or Credit Card company was cited by only 8% of victims of “New Accounts & Other Frauds” ID Theft. On the other hand, 18% of these victims said
that they were notified by other parties – including companies where debts had been
run up or government agencies.
· 8% of all victims first discovered a problem when they were turned down attempting to
secure credit. A) 18% of victims who had new accounts opened using their information or whose
information was used to commit other frauds discovered the misuse when attempting to obtain credit. B) Only 2% of victims who only had existing accounts misused – whether Credit Cards or other accounts – cited this as how they discovered that their information was being misused.
· 9% of all victims knew that they had lost their personal information because they had lost a
wallet or purse or were victims of theft.
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