AUGUST 2023

This report was made possible
through the support of Experian.

Table of Contents

Letter from the CEO

02

About the 2023 Consumer
Impact Report

Demographics

04

05

Summary of Key Findings
Key Takeaways
In Their Own Words

7
8
10

Actions

12

Additional Consumer Resources

13

About the ITRC & Experian

14

Consumer & Business Resources

15

Appendix2023 Impact of Identity Crimes
Study

16

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171

CEO Letter
For the past ten years, I’ve
penned report introductions
to highlight the broad range ofimpacts of identity crimes on
people. Normally, at this point,
I’d go into a review of anumber of statistics that show
how identity criminals continue
to find ways to take advantageof people and their personal
information. Not this year.

There will be a lot of statistics to pour over laterin this report, but now I want to draw yourattention to one number: 16 percent (16%).
That’s the number of identity crime victims who
have contacted the ITRC in the past year who
say they have considered suicide as a result of
having their identities misused. For context, thenumber of U.S. residents (excluding unshelteredpeople) who say they have contemplated taking
their own lives for any reason is five percent(5%) according to government estimates.
The number of identity crime victims who say
they have considered suicide has been steadily
increasing after nearly two decades in the two
to four percent (2%-4%) range. Then in 2020,
during the pandemic, we saw the number ofsuicidal victims jump to eight percent (8%). In
2021, that number grew again to 10 percent(10%). The overall suicide rate in the general
population also grew through the pandemic toapproximately 5 percent (5%), including three
percent (3%) in 2022.

Figure 1 | Percentage of Identity Crime Victims Who’ve Considered Suicide
2020
8%
2021
10%
2022
16%

The fact the number of identity crime victims
considering self-harm increased during the pandemic was no surprise, but the fact the rate hascontinued to climb is. And, the trend begs thequestion – why? We don’t have a great deal ofindependent information to guide us to adefinitive answer, but we can hazard someeducated guesses based on our research and ourdaily contact with victims every day for morethan 20 years.
+ The rise of sophisticated social
engineering scams – phishing, Business
Email Compromise (BEC), social media
account takeover to name a few - is alikely contributor to the stress ofvictims. Once almost laughably badspoofed websites, texts and emails are
now letter perfect and have been joinedby highly sophisticated voice mail anddirect contact attacks. This is before
we’ve seen generative AI deployed atscale which will also make it moredifficult to spot phishing and other social
engineering attacks.
+ An increase in very large dollar losses due
to social engineering in various identity
scams. For the first time at the ITRC weare consistently seeing six-figure losses
in romance and social media scams, often
involving cryptocurrency or otherinvestment schemes.

Figure 1© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

2

+ Everyone is vulnerable under the right
set of circumstances, yet the discussion
around identity crime victimization iseither dismissive, judgmental or both.
The language used when talking withvictims and when talking ABOUT victims,
particularly by the media and many cyberexperts, can create more shame andembarrassment. From comments like“what’s the big deal, it’s not as bad a
violent crime” to statements about
victims being “duped” and “falling for…”
creates an environment where victims
feel at fault and invalidated.
In all of these instances, the feelings of shameand guilt can be overwhelming for the victims ofthese crimes. The loss of trust and security canalso be life-changing. Some ITRC victims shared:
I isolated myself from everyone andstill do because I can’t make ends
meet, can’t get help or assistance, andI feel like an idiot.
I am worried about being on social
media, of making social media posts,
or about people finding the untrue
content online.

Regardless of the reasons, there are still far too
few resources to assist far too many identity
crime victims. Too many victims are shunned
by organizations that should support them andignored by government agencies that are too
short-staffed or ill-equipped to help them.
I hope you read this report thoroughly andreflect on the need to fundamentally change theway we support identity crime victims. That is
our mission, every day. We hope you will join us
to ensure no victim ever believes ending theirlife is the only way out of a crisis.

Eva Velasquez, CEO

Identity Theft Resource Center
August 2023

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
In 2020, Congress designated the new
988 dialing code to be operated through theexisting National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
If you or someone you know is the victim of
an identity crime that is likely to harmthemselves, call or text 988 or chat988lifeline.org for crisis support.

© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

3About the 2023 Consumer Impact Report
For a decade, the Identity Theft
Resource Center (ITRC) has
surveyed the identity crime
victims1 who have contacted
the ITRC to gauge the impactof identity crimes andcompromises on individuals.
Most research in this area
focuses solely on the financial
impacts of identity-related
crimes, which are substantial.

The purpose of the ITRC Consumer Impact Report,though, is to draw attention to the full spectrumof emotional, physical and practical effects on
the day-to-day lives of victims, including lost
opportunities.
In 2022, the ITRC responded to requests for
direct assistance from 14,817 individuals
seeking help with addressing the impacts ofcompromised or misused identity credentials,
as well as requests for information on how toprevent becoming a victim of an identity crime.
You can download the full Trends in Identity
Report here, published in May 2023, to learn
more about the current and emerging types ofidentity issues that victims have faced in thepast year.

Using the findings revealed in the Trends study
as a guide, this year, we sought to gain additional
insight from a random sample of victims who
had contacted the ITRC. We specifically asked
about actions they had taken to protect theirpersonal information before and after theylearned their identities had been compromised
and/or misused. This Consumer Impact Reportreflects the responses of 144 victims who
contacted the ITRC between January 2022 andDecember 2022.
To get a broader view of the trends and impacts
affecting consumers in general, we asked similar
questions to a group of 1,048 general
consumers using Survey Monkey, an online
survey tool. Within that cohort, 316 or 30
percent (30%) self-identified as being the victim
of an identity crime in the previous 12 months.
In this report, we will, from time to time, makea distinction between “ITRC Victims” – people
who contacted the ITRC for assistance – and“Consumers”, the 316 individuals whoreported being a victim of an identity crime inour online survey, but did not seek assistancefrom the ITRC. In several instances, we also
refer to General Consumers, which includes
the full sample of 1,048 consumers from theonline survey.

This report is based on survey responses from two groups of identity crime and compromise victims: Individuals who contacted the ITRC by telephone or live chat andconsumers who did not contact the ITRC but who nonetheless were self-reported victims of an identity crime or compromise. An identity crime involves the theft and/or
misuse of personal information.

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4

Demographics
The profile of “typical” identity crime victims who self-report
has not varied significantly since 2019. In the most recent
survey, about 60 percent (60%) of victims were women;
about half (~50%) of victims were 45 years of age or older,with the remaining spread evenly across younger adult age
groups. More than half of victims self-reported annual income
above $50,000 USD, with 26 percent (26%) reporting annual
income of more than $100,000 USD; 37 percent (37%)
reported income of less than $50,000 USD.

Figure 2 | Gender, General Consumers
Female
61%
Male
39%

Figure 3 | Age of Victims, General Consumers

Figures 2 , 3 and 4

Victims with at least some college or a college degreecontact the ITRC for assistance far more frequently thanvictims who only have a high school diploma or less. Basedon 2021 U.S. Census race and ethnicity data, victims who
contacted the ITRC skewed higher than the U.S. population
among African-American communities, lower among Asian
Americans/Pacific Islanders, and significantly lower among
victims of Hispanic origin.
The ITRC has recently completed a two-year study ofthe impacts of identity crimes in Black communities. A
report of initial findings from our research partner, theBlack Researchers Collective, is available on our website. Our
final report – Identity in Practice: Understanding Identity Crimesin Black Communities – will be released in September 2023.

21% 18 – 29
29% 30 – 44
50% 45 and Older

Figure 4 | Annual Income, General Consumers

37% Less than $50,000
32% $50,000 – $99,999
26% $100,000 or More
6%

© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

Prefer Not to Say

5

The 2023 Consumer Impact Report goes beyond the known financial
implications of identity crimes and explores the lost opportunities, as well as
the emotional, physical and psychological impacts experienced by victims
resulting from the crimes.
This report was made possible
through the support of Experian.

ITRC Victims
Who Reported
Thoughts of
SuicideFor context, thenumber of U.S.
residents (excluding
unsheltered people)
who say they havecontemplated
taking their own
lives for any reason
is five percent (5%).

2020

8%

2021

10%

2022

Victims Who’ve Received
2 to 5 Breach Notices

DoubledSINCE 2020

16%

Using the Same Password
Across Multiple Accounts

33%

23%

IT RC
VI C TI M S

GENER AL
CO N S U M E R S

Actions to Protect
Personal Information
MULTI -FACTORAUTHENTI F ICAT ION

59% ITRC V I C TIM S
53% G EN ER A L CO N S U M ER S

59%

56%

GENER AL
CO N S U M E R S

IT RC
V I C TI M SLOCK SCRE E N
E NABL E D

53% Victims
Began Using Different
Passwords After Their Identity
Was Stolen or Misused

How Victims Protect
Themselves on Social Media

Number of Identity
Crime Attacks
80%

69%

More than Once
First Time

60%

41%
40%

30%

36%

56% ITRC V I C TIM S
52% G EN ER A L CO N S U M ER S

More identity crime
victims reported losing
larger amounts of money
than in previous years.
Six-figure losses are
increasingly common.

LI M I T W H AT ’ S
POSTED

65%

ITRC Victims

57%

20%

General Consumers
0%

General Consumers

LI M I T W H O
CAN SEE

59%

ITRC Victims

48%

General Consumers

ITRC Victims© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E SO U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | IDTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

6Summary of
Key Findings
Key Takeaways
Comparative data between self-reported victims of an identity crime andindividuals who contacted the ITRC after being the victim of an identity crime.

In Their Own Words
Selected comments from victims provided in responses to survey questions.

© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E SO U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | IDTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

7

Key Takeaways
The number of ITRC Victims who reported they consideredsuicide jumped dramatically, doubling since 2021 to
16 percent (16%). The national average for non-homeless
U.S. residents who contemplate taking their life is~five percent (5%).2
Figure 5

Repeat identity crime victims exceeded the number offirst-time victims among ITRC Victims and Consumers.
Forty-one percent (41%) of ITRC Victims and 69 percent(69%) of Consumers said they had previously been the victim
of an identity crime (not including data breaches). Thatcompares to 36 percent (36%) for ITRC Victims and30 percent (30%) for Consumers who were first-time victims.

Figure 5 | Thoughts of Suicide, 2023
ITRC Victims
16%
National Average
5%

Figure 6 | Number of Identity Crime Attacks
Previous Victim of an Identity Crime
ITRC Victims

General Consumers

41%

69%

First-Time Victim of an Identity Crime
General Consumers
ITRC Victims
36%

30%

Figure 6More ITRC Victims and General Consumers received data
breach notices in the past year than those who did notreceive a breach notice. One-third (33%) of ITRC Victims and23 percent (23%) of General Consumers received between
two (2) and five (5) notices.

Figure 7 | Identity Victims Who Received Data Breach
Notices in the Past 12 Months
One (1)ITRC Victims

General Consumers

23%

27%

Two (2) to Five (5)ITRC Victims

Figure 7

General Consumers

33%

23%

Six (6) or More
ITRC Victims

Using the same password on multiple accounts leads toidentity crimes, yet most ITRC Victims and General
Consumers said they did just that. Fifty-six percent (56%) of
ITRC Victims and 59 percent (59%) of General Consumers
admit to using the same or similar passwords on all accounts.
Figure 8

General Consumers

15%

6%

Figure 8 | Identity Victims Using Same/Similar
Passwords Across Accounts
ITRC Victims
56%

Credit freezes are very effective at preventing fraudulent
accounts requiring a credit check, but 31 percent (31%) of
ITRC Victims and 22 percent (22%) of General Consumers
reported they had a freeze in place.
Figure 9

General Consumers
59%

Figure 9 | Identity Victims Who Had Their Credit
FrozenITRC Victims
31%
General Consumers
22%

On August 10, 2023 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the number of deaths linked to suicide in the U.S. grew by approximately three percent(~3%) in 2022, the highest level since World War II. This is in contrast to the 60 percent (60%) growth rate year-over-year among identity crime victims who contacted
the ITRC and who contemplated suicide.

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8

More than 40 percent (40%) of Consumers reported that it
took less than a week to resolve their identity issues, but
65 percent (65%) of ITRC Victims reported their issues werestill unresolved months after discovering the misuse.
Figure 10

Figure 10 | Time Took to Resolve Identity Issue

GeneralConsumers

ITRC Victims

Consumers reported lower financial losses than ITRC
victims. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Consumers reported
losses of less than $500 USD compared to only 14 percent(14%) of ITRC victims who lost that amount in an identity
crime. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of ITRC Victims reported
losses of $10,000 USD or more, including losses in excess of$100,000 USD.
Figure 11

10%
14%
4%
7%
65%

3 to 6 Months
6 Months to One Year
Unresolved

Figure 11 | Financial Losses Due to Identity Crime

Nearly three-fourths of both survey groups reported
experiencing financial problems; ~60 percent (60%) had
difficulty covering the costs of basic needs.
Figure 12

Under $500
ITRC Victims

General Consumers

14%

28%

$500 – $9,999
ITRC Victims

General Consumers

33%

59%

$10,000 or More
ITRC Victims

More than half – 56 percent (56%) – of Consumers soughtemotional support for the various problems they experienced
after their identity was misused, but only 33 percent (33%) of
ITRC victims sought help.
Figure 13

43%
38%
5%
4%
10%

Less Than a Week
One Week to 3 Months

General Consumers

29%

10%

Figure 12 | Victims Who Experienced Financial
Problems Due to Identity Crime
Experienced A Financial-Related Probelm
General Consumers
ITRC Victims
77%

73%

Difficulty Covering Costs of Basic Needs
General Consumers
ITRC Victims
61%

59%

Figure 13 | Identity Victims Who Sought Emotional
SupportITRC Victims
33%
General Consumers
56%© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

9In Their Own Words
In the 20 years since the ITRC’s
first impact report, the trends,
attacks and impacts related to
identity crimes have changed
significantly.

Theft of paper documents has given way tocyberattacks. Stealing data has given way tomisusing personal information to impersonate
an individual. The rise of social media means old
scams have a new platform to convince people
to give up information or money.
In this section, we use select commentsfrom victims provided in response to survey
questions.

Harms
The ITRC collected responses about the rangeof impacts of having your identity misused –financial, physical, emotional and lost
opportunities. As in 2022, responses fromvictims who contacted the ITRC versus thegeneral consumer population reflect deeper
and broader impacts. Or put another way, ITRC
victims come to us with more complex casesthat take longer to solve, involve greater
financial impacts, and create more physicaland emotional harm.

+ “I have zero funds to even meet a friend forcoffee or a drink. Therefore, I remain totally
isolated and mentally not good due tofeeling the scammers took my life. I buy
minimal food, so I go without good nutrition.
I have been unable to find employment since
I have zero money to buy the appropriate
clothes needed.”+ “My husband and I continuously fight overthis because I’ve seen to be obsessed with it.
And whoever is doing this, it mimics me andsomehow puts down my information on theaccount.”+ “I have been in therapy for over a year trying
to get a better handle on how this happened
and how to prevent it again.”+ “Between time and calls, I was on the phone
for more than 80 hours, and it is still not
resolved.”+ “The person was texting my husband,
acting like me and requesting money frommy friends.”+ “I quit using social media as a means ofselling my handmade crafts. Lost that
income.”+ “I divorced my husband.”+ “It has devastated my family. I have to be
tongue-in-cheek; it’s pretty freaking rough.”+ “I lost all my data, photos, videos,
documents. All access to existing accounts.
New accounts show up every month.”© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

10

Prevention & Protection
For the first time in the ITRC Consumer Impact
Report, we focused on the ways identity crime
victims protect their personal information. The
range of actions presented was based on actions
the ITRC recommends for keeping personal
information safe and secure.
ITRC Victims were asked what actions they took
to protect themselves before their personal
information was misused.
+ “I used a credit/identity monitoring service
that we were given due to a security breach.”+ “Did not do anything.”+ “Set up Alerts on all financial accounts.
Changed passwords fairly regularly.”

ITRC Victims were then asked what actions
they took after being victimized to protect theirpersonal information.
+ “I don’t give personal information over thephone.”+ “No social media.”+ “I do everything differently. This is aterrifying hell.”+ “Froze my credit file...”+ “Pretty much don’t trust anybody anymore.”+ “I monitor all of our accounts for suspicious
activity much more frequently.”+ “I don’t know how to do anything you listed.”+ “Used anti-virus software on all devices.”© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

11

Actions
One of the most frequently asked questions
about identity crime trends is simply “why?”
Why are more victims suicidal? Why are data
breaches increasing every year? Why don’t more
victims and general consumers freeze their
credit to prevent more severe financial impacts?
There is rarely a simple answer to “why” whenit comes to cyberattacks and identity crimes.
More often than not, there are multiple reasons
behind identity trends that increasingly
translate into a few options for an individual totake preventative actions.
The better questions, then, is “what?” What can
I do to better protect my personal information?
What can I do to recover my identity if I become
a victim? What should I do if I realize I’ve beenscammed?
Based on government statistics, identity crimes
are the most frequently committed criminal
offenses except for property crimes. More than
all violent crimes – combined. There areimportant steps that individuals andorganizations can take to prevent or reduce theimpact of an identity crime before it happens.
There are actions that can be taken after an
identity crime to speed the recovery of acompromised identity.
The ITRC exists to help prevent and recoverfrom identity crimes. There is never a charge forour services for an individual. If you believe you
have been the victim of an identity crime,
contact the ITRC.

Contact Us
CALL TOLL-FRE E

888.400.5530
LI VE CHAT W I TH O U R
EXPE RT ADVI SORSIDTheftCenter.org© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

12

Additional Consumer Resources
ITRC Podcasts
Be sure to check out all of the ITRC’s latest podcasts:

Weekly Breach Breakdown
Each week, the Weekly Breach Breakdown takes a look at
the most recent events and trends related to data security
and privacy.

The Fraudian Slip
The Fraudian Slip is the ITRC’s monthly podcast, where wetalk about all things identity compromise, crime and fraudthat impact people and businesses.
LISTEN NOW

Breach Alert for Consumers
Check out the ITRC’s Breach Alert for Consumers service, freeof charge. With Breach Alert for Consumers, you can create alimited list of companies where you do business and receive an
email alert if one of them is added to the notified database.

Easy to Set Up+ Sign Up For Alerts – Select up to five companies.
+ Get Breach Email Notifications+ Stay Notified
SIGN UP NOW© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

13About the ITRC & Experian
About the Identity Theft Resource Center®
Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) is a national nonprofit organization
established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk andmitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC
provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its website live-chatidtheftcenter.org and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers andbusinesses with information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool,
notified. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing andblind/low vision communities.

About Experian
Experian is the world’s leading global information services company. During life’s big moments – frombuying a home or a car, to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with newcustomers – we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help
individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions
and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organizations to prevent identity fraud and crime.
We have 22,000 people operating across 32 countries and every day we’re investing in newtechnologies, talented people, and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity. With
corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, we are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and area constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
Learn more at experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news
and insights from the Group.

© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

14This report was made possible
through the support of Experian.

Consumer & Business Resources
The ITRC offers a variety of low-cost identity education, protection, andrecovery services for small businesses as well as free victim assistance andeducation opportunities for consumers. To learn more, email
dorinda@idtheftcenter.org.

For Media
For any media-related inquiries, please email media@idtheftcenter.org.

Appendix
In this section, we show the responses from the identity crime victims who contacted the
ITRC and general consumers who completed an online survey. The responses highlightthe many similarities shared by identity crime victims as well as the depth and breadth of
the impacts of these crimes.

2023 Impact of Indentity Crimes Study© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E SO U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | IDTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

16

2023 Impact of Identity Crimes Study
General Consumers VS ITRC Victims
Responses below in yellow are for General Consumers and blue for ITRC victims. The responses from both surveys have beenaligned horizontally for easy comparison. Also, some percentages may not total 100% due to rounding and no responses.

What actions do you currently take to minimize the risk ofyour identity being stolen or compromised? Select all that
apply.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

I use two-factor (2FA) or multi-factor authentification (MFA).

I used two-factor (2FA) or multi-factor authentification (MFA).
53%

59%
I enabled the Lock Screen on all of my electronic devices.

I have enabled the Lock Screen on all of my electronic devices.
52%

56%
I never use the same password on different accounts.

I never use the same password on different accounts.
41%

44%
I used a password manager to keep track of my passwords.

I use a password manager to keep track of my passwords.
35%

33%
I used an Identity Protection PIN when I file my taxes.

I use an Identity Protection PIN when I file my taxes.
32%

29%
I paid for a credit or identity monitoring service.

I pay for a credit or identity monitoring service.
23%

22%
I froze my credit.

I have frozen my credit.
23%

31%

Have you adopted any of the following habits to protect yourpersonal information? Select all that apply.

Since your identity compromise, have you adopted any of thefollowing habits to protect your personal information? Selectall that apply.

GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

I limit what I post of social media.

I limit what I post of social media.
57%

I only click on links or open attachments in emails or text if I requested them.

68%
I only click on links or open attachments in emails or text if I requested them.

56%
I never click on links or open attachments in emails or texts.

59%
I never click on links or open attachments in emails or texts.

53%
I use a long, unique password for each online account/app.

59%
I use a long, unique password for each online account/app.

50%
I limit who can see my social media.

55%
I limit who can see my social media.

48%
I only provide personal information over the phone when I made the phone call.

61%
I only provide personal information over the phone when I made the phone call.

43%
I only send money with an instant payment service when I initiate the transaction and know
the payee.

58%
I only send money with an instant payment service when I initiate the transaction and know
the payee is legitimate.

41%© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

54%

17

Have you received data breach notices in the past 12 months?
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

I received one (1) data breach notice.

I received one (1) data breach notice.
27%

I received 2 – 5 data break notices.

23%
I received 2 – 5 data break notices.

23%
I received six (6) or more data breach notices.

33%
I received six (6) or more data breach notices.

6%
I did not receive any data breach notices.

15%
I did not receive any data breach notices.

44%

29%

Has your personal information (Social Security Number,Driver’s License, login/password, account number, social
media account, etc.) been stolen or misused in the past
12 months?
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S
No
70%
Yes
30%

How many times have you been the victim of an identity crime (not including data breaches)?
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

One Time

One Time
31%

36%
Two Times

Two Times
35%

13%
Three Times

Three Times
21%
Four or More Times

10%
Four or More Times

13%

18%
Other
24%

© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

18

Whom did you first contact for assistance after discovering your personal information had been stolen? Select all that apply.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

My Bank or Other Financial Institution

My Bank or Other Financial Institution
38%

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)64%
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)36%
Local Police

60%
Local Police

28%State or Federal Law Enforcement Agency (State Police, FBI, Secret Service, Postal
Inspector, etc.)

54%
State or Federal Law Enforcement Agency (State Police, FBI, Secret Service, Postal
Inspector, etc.)

24%

25%
Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)

Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)
22%The Business that Lost Control of My Information

70%
The Business that Lost Control of My Information

16%
Credit Monitoring or Identity Protection Service

32%
Credit Monitoring or Identity Protection Service

15%
A Family Member or Trusted Friend

39%
A Family Member or Trusted Friend

14%

32%
One or More Credit Bureaus

One or More Credit Bureaus
12%
A Service Provided by My Employer as a Benefit

59%
A Service Office by My Employer

7%

7%
I attempted to contact an organization for help, but did not get a response.

I attempted to contact an organization for help, but did not get a response.

38%

6%
Other

Other
3%

17%

I did not contact an organization for assistance.
6%

How long did you wait to seek assistance after learning your identity/personal information was stolen or misused?
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

The Same Day

The Same Day
46%

57%
Within One MonthWithin One Month24%

20%
1 – 3 Months

1 – 3 Months
14%

10%
4 – 6 Months

4 – 6 Months
10%
7 – 12 Months

1%
7 – 12 Months

2%
More Than One Year

3%
More Than One Year2%

9%

I Did Not Seek Assistance4%© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

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How long did you wait to seek assistance from the ITRC after
learning your identity/personal information was stolen or
misused?
I T RC V I CT I MS
The Same Day
43%
Within One Month34%
1 – 3 Months
9%
4 – 6 Months2%
7 – 12 Months
4%
More Than One Year
7%

Rate your level of satisfaction with the organization(s) you contacted for assistance.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

Very Satisfied

Very Satisfied
35%

18%
SatisfiedSatisfied33%

14%
NeutralNeutral25%
Dissatisfied

30%
Dissatisfied

5%
Very Dissatisfied

17%
Very Dissatisfied

2%

20%

You answered that you did not contact any organization forhelp responding to your identity/personal information being
stolen or misused. Why not?
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S
I knew what to do.
51%
I did not know whom to contact.
43%
I did not trust any one to help me.
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How long did you spend dealing with this instance of identity misuse? If it is ongoing, select “No Yet Resolved”.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

Not Yet Resolved

Not Yet Resolved
10%65%
One Week of Less

One Week of Less
43%

10%
At Least a Week, but Less than a Month (7 – 30 Days)

At Least a Week, but Less than a Month (7 – 30 Days)
28%

7%
One Month to Three Months

One Month to Three Months
10%

7%
Three Months to Six Months

Three Months to Six Months
5%

4%
Six Months to One Year

Six Months to One Year
4%

7%

What was the approximate value of everything stolen during your identity crime incident? Include the value of goods, services, credit card chargers, loans, cash, and anything else the person may have obtained.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

$0 – $499$0 – $499
28%$500 – $999

14%$500 – $999

19%
$1,000 – $4,999

9%$1,000 – $4,999

27%$5,000 – $9,999

17%$5,000 – $9,999

13%$10,000 or More

7%
$10,000 or More

10%
Unknown

29%
Unknown3%© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

24%

21

As a result of this incident, did you experience any of the following financial-related problems? Select all that apply.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

I was unable to rent an apartment or find housing.

I was unable to rent an apartment or find housing.
21%

19%
I was unable to pay bills.

I was unable to pay bills.

40%

30%
I was turned down for credit or loans (such as student, mortgage, or personal).

I was turned down for credit or loans (such as student, mortgage, or personal).

28%

31%
I had to use my savings to pay for expenses.

I had to use my savings to pay for expenses.

32%

26%
I am now in debt.

I am now in debt.

37%

9%
Debt collectors or collections departments contacted me (or continue to contact me).

Debt collectors or collections departments contacted me (or continue to contact me).

35%

13%
I did not experience any financial-related problems.

I did not experience any financial-related problems.

23%

27%
I was unable to enroll or attend school/college.

I was unable to enroll or attend school/college.

8%

4%
Other

Other
4%

34%

If your identity theft case made it difficult for you to cover the cost of a need, how did you get the need met? Select all that apply.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

I borrowed money from family or friends.

I borrowed money from family or friends.
28%

30%
I obtained a loan from a financial institution (bank or credit union).

I obtained a loan from a financial institution (bank or credit union).
33%
I went without.

6%
I went without.

26%

55%
I sought government assistance (such as welfare, EBT, food stamps/SNAP).

I sought government assistance (such as welfare, EBT, food stamps/SNAP).
19%

23%
I did not have any problems covering the costs of a need.

I did not have any problems covering the costs of a need.
30%© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

33%

22

As a result of this incident, did you experience any of the following non-financial problems? Select all that apply.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

I lost time at work.

I lost time at work.
27%

I had to take time away from my family.

34%
I had to take time away from my family.

43%
I lost out on an employment opportunity.

37%
I lost out on an employment opportunity.

21%
None of the above.

31%
None of the above.

33%
Other

33%
Other

3%

27%

Did this identity theft incident lead to any of the following problems with your employer? Select all that apply.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

Strained relationship with my boss.

Strained relationship with my boss.
23%

Not receiving support from my boss.

14%
Not receiving support from my boss.

25%
My identity theft incident did not lead to problems with my employer.

14%
My identity theft incident did not lead to problems with my employer.

42%

29%
None of the above.

None of the above.
29%

54%

Did this identity theft incident lead to any of the following problems with your family or friends? Select all that apply.
I T RC V I CT I MS

GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

Getting into more arguments with family.

Getting into more arguments with family.
24%
Getting into more arguments with friends.

38%
Getting into more arguments with friends.

25%

25%
Not feeling able to trust family.

Not feeling able to trust family.

33%

23%
Not feeling able to trust friends.

Not feeling able to trust friends.
21%

34%
Not receiving support from family.

Not receiving support from family.
10%

37%
Not receiving support from friends.

Not receiving support from friends.
8%34%
My identity theft incident did not lead to problems with my family.

My identity theft incident did not lead to problems with my family.
26%

26%
My identity theft incident did not lead to problems with my friends.

My identity theft incident did not lead to problems with my friends.
22%

24%
None of the above.

None of the above.
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15%

23

As a result of this incident, did you experience any of the following feelings? Select all that apply.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

Worried or Anxious

Worried or Anxious
47%

Vulnerable

87%
Vulnerable

43%
Violated71%
Violated

43%
Shame or Embarrassment

77%
Shame or Embarrassment

23%
Sad or Depressed52%
Sad or Depressed

19%
Like You Can’t Trust People

63%
Like You Can’t Trust People

20%

71%
Guilt that You Caused This to Happen or Did Something Wrong

Guilt that You Caused This to Happen or Did Something Wrong
14%
Suicidal45%
Suicidal3%
Annoyed or Frustrated

16%
Annoyed or Frustrated

28%

75%
Angry

Angry
28%

79%
Isolated

Isolated
9%
Loss of Interest in Activities or Hobbies

45%
Loss of Interest in Activities or Hobbies

9%43%
Loss of Interest in Work

Loss of Interest in Work
7%
None of the above.

28%
None of the above.

4%

1%

Did you seek emotional support for any of the problems you experienced?
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

Yes

Yes
56%

No

33%
No

44%

© I D E N T I T Y T H E F T R E S O U RCE CEN TER 2 0 2 3 | I DTH EFTCEN TER .O RG

67%

24

As a result of this incident, did you experience any of the following feelings? Select all that apply.
GEN ERAL CO NSUMER S

I T RC V I CT I MS

Persistent Aches, Pains, Headaches, or Cramps

Persistent Aches, Pains, Headaches, or Cramps
31%

Sleep Problems (Difficulty Falling or Staying Asleep)

40%
Sleep Problems (Difficulty Falling or Staying Asleep)

47%
Changes in Your Eating or Drinking Habits

67%
Changes in Your Eating or Drinking Habits

26%
Panic or Anxiety Attacks

39%
Panic or Anxiety Attacks

21%

51%
Stress (Tense, Nervous, Irritable)

Stress (Tense, Nervous, Irritable)
30%
New Unhealthy or Addictive Behaviors (Smoking, Drinking Alcohol, Drug Use, etc.)

79%
New Unhealthy or Addictive Behaviors (Smoking, Drinking Alcohol, Drug Use, etc.)

7%
Relapse into Unhealthy or Addictive Behaviors (Smoking, Drinking Alcohol, Drug Use, etc.)

11%
Relapse into Unhealthy or Addictive Behaviors (Smoking, Drinking Alcohol, Drug Use, etc.)

8%None of the Above

16%
None of the Above

17%

15%

Are you doing anything differently today to minimize the riskof another identity crime or compromise?
I T RC V I CT I MS
Yes
92%
No
8%

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