How Common Are Identity Theft Cases?
The exact numbers for identity theft cases are still being debated, but some numbers are as high as 44 million people as of 2010, or an average of 1 in 5 people in America and other industrialized nations. Others say these numbers are much higher than actual victims. Even with the discrepancies in estimates, identity theft cases are still the fastest growing crime in many countries, including the United States. Nearly 250,000 complaints are filed in any given year for identity theft cases, and many more go unnoticed for extended periods of time. Additionally, there are companies and other organizations which put customer information at risk for identity theft. Most of these cases are due to computer malfunction, hackers, and occasionally disgruntled employees. New computer security software has been developed to help combat these issues.
