Misunderstandings Lead to Confusion
Similar to previous years, Americans still remain confused about how identity theft occurs. Thirty-five percent believe identity theft occurs through online exchanges, when in reality it only accounts for 12 percent of the crime(1).

In addition, only seven percent of Americans believe their family and friends are responsible for the crime, even though national statistics show that 17 percent of all identity theft cases involve family and friends(1).

Americans Adopt Good Protection Habits
On the flip side, Americans are not letting their guard down when it comes to taking precautions and adopting better identity theft protection habits. Two thirds of Americans (66 percent) continue to report using tools or solutions to protect themselves from identity theft, and women are outpacing men in taking these preventive measures.