2002 by the numbers:
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161,819 identity theft complaints were reported to the FTC Identity Theft Clearinghouse in 2002-nearly double the 2001 record! |
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700,000 people in the United States may be victimized by identity bandits each year |
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42% of identity theft incidences involved credit card fraud. Other major categories involved fraudulent bank and cell phone accounts |
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1 in every 20 consumers has been the victim of credit card |
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1 in every 50 consumers has been the victim of identity theft |
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69% of identity theft victims only discover theft 6 months after the first occurrence |
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13% of identity theft victims know the suspect |
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Source: Federal Trade Commission identity Theft Data Clearinghouse 2002 |
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