Identity Theft Victims In Indiana

Abstract

Results of the Indiana Criminal Victimization Survey, a recent survey of Indiana citizens conducted by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI), indicate that roughly 1 in 10 Indiana adult residents were the victim of some form of identity theft in 2010. During the summer and fall of 2011, researchers from the Indiana University Center for Criminal Justice Research (CCJR) partnered with ICJI to analyze survey data. In general, it was found that survey respondents who were female, more educated (individuals whose reported education level was an associate degree or higher), or had higher incomes (a reported annual household income of more than $50,000), were more likely to be victims of identity theft.

This report summarizes survey findings regarding the means by which victims became aware of the identity theft; reports of the crime to law enforcement; reported financial loss as a result of identity theft; time spent resolving problems associated with identity theft; and the demographic characteristics of Indiana identity theft victims by three forms of this crime type (unauthorized use or attempted use of credit card, unauthorized use or attempted use of another existing account, and unauthorized use of personal information).