Identity Theft Facts

Identity theft affects a vast number of people, many of whom thought it would never be them. The unfortunate truth is that despite our best efforts, we can’t always stop identity theft from happening. But we can learn how to best respond and the measures to better protect ourselves as well.

In this guide, we will share eight surprising identity theft facts that most people simply don’t know. Take a look below to learn more about identity theft and protecting yourself as well.

1. Mental Health Strain

Did you know that suffering from identity theft often takes a toll on your mental health? In a single year, nearly half of the individuals that suffered from ID theft reported suffering from mental health following the incident. Many simply didn’t know how to cope with the loss or the struggle. And still more admit that they struggled with sleep loss and insomnia following their experience.

Identity theft is scary, and the impact goes well beyond just losing money or having to fight the credit bureaus. You feel like things are out of control. It’s a good idea to invest in an identity theft protection program. Many companies out there offer support to you through the challenges. For example, Aura Identity Guard reviews discuss the ability to have someone on your case at a moment’s notice and an appreciation for the tools provided at a low cost.

2. Any Age Can Be a Victim

At one time, it was just adults that fell prey to ID theft. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Being young and not having established credit will not stop fraudsters from using your identity. Each year, child identity theft accounts for nearly $1 billion of the losses claimed. Identity theft comes for children, young adults, and any age.

We always consider the senior citizen population the most at risk, but this simply is no longer true.

3. Social Media is a Top Source

How often do you see scams and posts on Facebook that just make you roll your eyes? Social media is great for keeping up and learning new things, but there is little to no protection from the scammers and spammers that have found their way of life here.

Social media has become one of the top sources of identity theft, with people hacking accounts, pretending they are someone they’re not, and learning all of your prevalent information in disguise.

4. Substantial Financial Loss

Identity theft is not always a financial loss. Sometimes, it’s just a person stealing your Facebook page. It could happen in different ways, but many times there are financial ties. Someone out there pretending to be you could rack up extensive credit card debt, take a mortgage in your name, and run your finances into the ground.

In some cases, they even steal your money as they pose as you. According to studies, financial loss increases significantly each year. In 2021, there was nearly $6 billion in financial loss from ID theft.

5. Constantly Happening

Did you know that identity theft occurs every 22 seconds? The idea of how much ID theft is happening and how little is being done to stop it is scary. Sadly, many people don’t even realize it has happened until they suffer a major loss or credit hit unexpectedly. With ID theft happening on an average of 22 seconds, that is more than 60 people per day affected.

6. Breaching Data

While social media is a huge contributor to social media, so are data breaches. When you provide companies with your private data, like date of birth and social security number, you’re putting yourself at risk. We get it; you almost can’t conduct any business without sharing this data. It’s simply important to know and be vigilant. A data breach with this info could put you at risk.

7. Public Wi-Fi Isn’t Safe

We all appreciate public Wi-Fi. You head over to Starbucks or your favorite coffee shop so you can do some work and enjoy a drink or snack. That’s great! But you should know that you are putting yourself at risk when you use public Wi-Fi. Your computer is now vulnerable, and so is everything on it. Always make sure you are never processing financial transactions on public Wi-Fi.

8. You Can’t Always Stop Identity Theft

Finally, it’s important to know that anyone can become a victim. You may think that you are doing all the right things to stay protected. And maybe you are! Unfortunately, this is no longer enough to protect you from facing identity theft. It can happen to anyone, anytime. Taking steps to protect yourself or using an ID theft company can certainly help, but you need to be aware of what to look for and what steps to take should it happen to you!

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