Identity
Theft - Potential
Areas |
|
%
of Americans
Agreeing |
Stolen
wallet |
86 |
Accessing
a credit card
number on
the Internet |
65 |
Identifying
information
on Internet
sources |
64 |
Stolen
mail from
an unlocked
mailbox |
64 |
'Dumpster
diving' in
trash binsfor
un-shredded
documents |
58 |
Fraudulently
accessing
credit reports |
56 |
Obtaining
your name
and Social
SecurityNumber
from personnel
or customer
filesin the
workplace |
54 |
'Shoulder
surfing' at
ATM to capture
PIN numbers |
46 |
Base:
500 US adults
surveyed April
2004 |
Worries center around 'the nuisance factor' as well as the obvious financial implications. The steps taken to avoid identity theft are as follows:
Precaution
|
|
%
taking |
Avoid
giving my
social security
number out |
87 |
Shred
or destroy
bank and/or
credit card
information
|
83 |
Shred
or destroy
any credit
card or other
direct mail
offers
|
81 |
Create
passwords
containing
numbers and
letters |
61 |
Avoid
buying or
making donations
via the phone
|
58 |
Only
purchase goods
online from
a reputable
Web site |
56 |
Install
a computer
firewall at
home |
52 |
'Read
the privacy
statements
and/or
bank liability
clauses
|
50 |
Check
my credit
report more
frequently |
38 |
Only
use one credit
card for purchases
|
31 |
Avoid
shopping online
|
31 |
Avoid
using my debit/check-cashing
card for purchases |
20 |
Subscribe
to an identity
theft protection
program |
11 |
Base:
500 US adults
surveyed April
2004 |