How Common Is Identity Theft in 2024? 24 Identity Theft Statistics

Understanding identity theft statistics can help you avoid becoming one. Read on to learn how common
identity theft is and about the consequences.

Identity theft facts

The statistics on identity theft cases and other online fraud can be staggering. If you haven’t done everything
to prevent your identity from falling into the hands of cybercriminals—and you aren’t regularly monitoring your credit reports—you might not even know if someone is using your identity.

Look at the statistics below to see how widespread this type of fraud is:

1. The FBI reported 27,922 victims of identity theft in 2022.
2. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 231,724 reports of identity theft in Q4 2023 alone.

Data breaches involving personally identifiable information had one of the highest victim counts compared to other crimes in 2022, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

AI-driven identity theft scams will likely increase in 2024.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 12% of people over 16 learned that an entity with their personal information experienced a data breach in 2021.

Most common types of identity theft

Identity theft isn’t as simple as someone taking your credit card or driver’s license. What might start as a
social engineering scam could end up with a stranger (or even a family member) using pieces of your
identity to commit synthetic identity theft, Medicare scams, or other identity crimes.

Here are some statistics about common identity theft types:

1. Credit card fraud was the most common type of identity theft reported in 2022, with 441,882 cases
   reported to the FTC.
2. Phishing, a tactic commonly used to steal personally identifiable information, was the most common type of cybercrime in 2022.
3. The FTC received 37,924 reports of military ID theft in 2022.
4. In 2022, the Identity Theft Resource Center received four times the number of inquiries related to social media account takeovers than in 2021. Cybercriminals can use hijacked accounts to extort money from the account owner, friends, and family members.
5. There were 27,820 reports of identity theft relating to medical services in 2022, according to data from the Consumer Sentinel Network.
6. In 2023, the FTC received 89,465 reports related to tax-related or employment identity fraud in 2023.

Does identity theft ever go away?

You can limit the damage done after identity theft by taking appropriate actions. First, freeze or lock your credit and dispute any charges or accounts you didn’t open. Then, monitor your credit report and bank and credit card accounts for fraud. If you don’t dispute accounts or charges, it can take years for those accounts
to disappear from your credit report after they’re closed.

How do I clear my name after identity theft?

The best way to clear your name after identity theft is to take steps to prevent it from happening again. Lock your credit unless you’re actively applying for new accounts, place a fraud alert on your reports with the credit bureaus, protect your Social Security number, and dispute all charges and accounts the thief created. You may need to file a police report to prove you didn’t open those accounts and have false criminal records expunged.

What are some warning signs you have had your identity stolen?

There are several warning signs that somebody stole your identity, including:

• Calls from creditors regarding accounts you didn’t open
• Bills in the mail
• Charges on credit cards you didn’t make
• Your name appearing in criminal records searches
• Being denied credit you should qualify for
• Not receiving government benefits you’re entitled to

Source: How common is identity theft in 2024? 24 identity theft statistics - LifeLock (norton.com)