California Ranks Third For ID Theft: Report

CALIFORNIA — Californians fall victim to identity theft more often than residents in most other states in America, according to a new report.

In fact, California ranks third out of 50 states when it comes to identity theft. Only Michigan, followed by Florida, ranks higher than California.

There were 371,061 reported cases of identity theft last year, the online financial news site 24/7 Wall St. recently reported. Overall, ID theft seems to be falling, as there were nearly 400,000 cases in 2016 and more than 490,000 known incidents in 2015.

What’s particularly troubling is that the likelihood of becoming a victim of identity theft seems to depend heavily where you live.

South Dakota had the lowest rate of identity theft with just 46 reported cases for every 100,000 residents. But other states saw ID theft rates that were more than three times as high.

California had the third-highest rate of identity theft with 140 reported cases for every 100,000 residents. There were 55,418 reported cases of ID theft last year, according to the report.

Identity theft typically means a third party used someone’s personal identifying information — such as social security number or credit card number — to commit fraud or theft.

Credit card fraud was far and away the most common form of identity theft. This means an individual’s credit card was either used to buy stuff without the victim’s permission or it was used to open new cards in the victim’s name.

With the tax filing deadline looming — and by looming, we mean Tuesday — the site says it’s also common for thieves to try to steal tax returns. There were nearly 63,000 reported cases of tax-related identity theft alone last year.

Following the national trend, credit card fraud was the most common form of identity theft in California, followed by employment or tax-related fraud, according to the report.

One of the best ways to prevent tax-related identity theft from happening is to file as early as possible.

“Identity theft can take the form of utilities fraud, loan or lease fraud, government benefits fraud, and credit card fraud,” the report said.

Americans in their 30s reported more cases of identity theft last year than any other age group, the site said. The second most-common group was individuals in their 40s.

Here are the five states with the highest rates of identity theft:

5. Nevada

• Identity theft complaints: 128 per 100,000 (total: 3,828)
• Median loss for all types of fraud: $500 (2nd highest)
• Most common form of ID theft: Credit card fraud (39 percent of total)
• Second most common form of ID theft: Employment or tax-related fraud (32 percent of total)

4. Maryland

• Identity theft complaints: 129 per 100,000 (total: 7,788)
• Median loss for all types of fraud: $458 (22nd highest)
• Most common form of ID theft: Credit card fraud (35 percent of total)
• Second most common form of ID theft: Employment or tax-related fraud (26 percent of total)

3. California

• Identity theft complaints: 140 per 100,000 (total: 55,418)
• Median loss for all types of fraud: $500 (2nd highest)
• Most common form of ID theft: Credit card fraud (43 percent of total)
• Second most common form of ID theft: Employment or tax-related fraud (20 percent of total)

2. Florida

• Identity theft complaints: 149 per 100,000 (total: 31,167)
• Median loss for all types of fraud: $428 (18th lowest)
• Most common form of ID theft: Credit card fraud (40 percent of total)
• Second most common form of ID theft: Bank fraud (18 percent of total)

1. Michigan

• Identity theft complaints: 151 per 100,000 (total: 15,027)
• Median loss for all types of fraud: $400 (11th lowest)
• Most common form of ID theft: Government Documents or Benefits fraud (27 percent of total)
• Second most common form of ID theft: Employment or tax-related fraud (26 percent of total)

24/7 Wall St. used data from the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book to assess which states have the most and least identity theft.

Click here to read the full report and here to read the methodology.

Story by Daniel Hampton/Patch; Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.