Identity Theft Resource Reports an Increase in Internet Identity Theft

Identity Theft Resource, a non-profit and donation funded organization, recently released a report dubbed as The Aftermath 2006, regarding the impact of identity theft in 2006 on actual victims. Identity Theft Resource's report is based on accounts of confirmed victims of identity theft in 2006 who responded to a series of forty-four questions.

According to The Aftermath 2006 report, there was an increase in theft via the internet from 2004-2006, as well as an increase in the number of stolen wallets, and home or car robberies. These incidents are usually the source of stolen information used by the identity theft perpetrators. The Aftermath 2006 further reports that a large number of the respondents have been victimized by those close to them or used to be close to them like friends, ex-spouses or ex-girlfriends/boyfriends, co-workers, and even family members. The respondents further stated that the perpetrators are usually experiencing financial difficulties, have addictions or have previously committed identity theft against other persons.

Regarding how the identity thieves used the victim's information, nearly sixty-seven percent of the victims of identity theft said that their information was used to open new credit lines while twenty-nine percent of the respondents said that their information was used to obtain new cable, while the remaining twenty-seven percent of the respondents said that the perpetrators used their existing credit card accounts.

The Aftermath 2006 report also stated that the usual length of time that victims started to discover that they were victims of identity theft was usually within 3 months of the beginning of the case, according to thirty-three percent of respondents while sixteen percent says that they discovered the fraud between four and six months.

On the amount of time it took the victims to resolve the issue, fifty-nine percent said that they resolved it within twelve months, fourteen percent said that they were able to clear all issues in two years, while twenty-seven percent said that it took them more than two years to resolve the issue.

The Aftermath 2006 Report further reveals that the effects of identity theft on the victims include difficulties in obtaining credit, obtaining a job, adverse effects on insurance or credit rates, and difficulty in clearing accounts, among others. The emotional impact of identity theft on the victims could range from having a stressed family life, betrayal, to feelings that their family didn't understand. Amongst the strongest feelings include anger, personal finance fears, powerlessness, grieving, annoyed, inability to trust people, and feelings of being unprotected by the police.

The Identity Theft Resource has been working with other entities to help prevent the proliferation of identity theft.

SOURCE:

Identity Theft Resource, "The Identity Theft Resource Center Releases Identity Theft: The Aftermath 2006, a paramount report on the impact of identity theft victimization." Prnewswire.com