New Research Confirms Identity Fraud Is On Decline

The 2008 Identity Fraud Survey Report - released by Javelin Strategy & Research (http://www.javelinstrategy.com/) - confirms that identity fraud is declining in most parts of the United States, and that fraudsters are turning to unexpected channels to commit fraud. This year's report reinforces a three-year trend that criminals mostly obtain the majority of information from stolen personal belongings, and through telephone calls, rather than online. For the first time, a key new finding identifies California and Illinois among five states whose residents are most at risk of identity fraud.

Key Survey Findings

Overall identity fraud is declining in the United States – Down by an estimated
12 percent over 2006, which represents a total fraud reduction of $6 billion.

Traditional methods still pose the greatest risk – Fraudsters are turning to lower-tech methods by utilizing telephone theft more than ever before. Access through mail and telephone transactions grew from 3 percent of ID theft in 2006 to 40 percent in 2007.

States are not affected equally – Fraud risk is lowest in the Northeast while residents in California and other states are at the highest risk.

Fraud response varies by age – Young adults who fall victim to fraud are most likely to purchase ID fraud insurance and sign up for fraud alerts. Older adults who fall victim often react by no longer sending bill payments and checks through unsecured mailboxes.

For Additional Educational Tips, visit:
CheckFree Corporation, now part of Fiserv, Inc.www.checkfree.com/idprotect
Visa Inc.www.visa.com/security
Wells Fargowww.wellsfargo.com/privacy_security/fraud_prevention/
To take an identity fraud safety quiz and download a free consumer ID fraud report, visit http://www.idsafety.net/.