Annual Survey Shows Women Are Leading the Charge in Protecting Against the Crime ITASCA, Ill., May 19
ITASCA, Ill., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- As identity thieves continue to
victimize millions of people each year, the crime is not only robbing
consumers of their financial security -- it's also robbing them of their peace
of mind. According to a national survey, conducted by the Identity Theft
Resource Center (ITRC) and Fellowes, Inc., the leading shredder manufacturer,
the vast majority of Americans remain aware of identity theft and more are
feeling they can become a victim of the crime.
This new research is part of a long-term awareness initiative called
Americans' Identity Confidence Index, which gauges how consumer perceptions of
identity theft and specific preemptive behaviors change over time. Through
the index, Fellowes and the ITRC annually survey respondents on five questions
pertaining to vulnerability, and report on overall changes. This year, the
index remained consistent with last year's findings, indicating consumer
confidence is still down compared to 2006 when it was first measured.
Consumers remain aware that the threat of identity theft is real, with a
vast majority (85 percent) of Americans agreeing that identity theft can
happen anywhere and at any time. In fact, the feeling of personal
vulnerability has increased significantly with nearly two thirds (65 percent)
of American's believing they themselves can be a victim of identity theft
compared to just 57 percent in 2007 and more Americans recognizing identity
theft as a real problem rather than a media hype (60 percent in 2008 vs.
55 percent in 2007).
"The threat of identity theft in America is real, and it's encouraging to
see so many people taking the crime seriously," said Jamie Fellowes, chairman
and CEO of Fellowes, Inc. "This index continues to be an important tool in
gauging Americans' perceptions of the crime and enables us to continue to
provide consumers with proper education and the best prevention tools."
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.
When it comes to protection against the crime, seven in ten (70 percent)
women report using tools and solutions to protect themselves from identity
theft, compared to just 62 percent of men. Women are also more likely than
men (90 percent vs. 84 percent) to keep a closer eye on their bank accounts,
and avoid giving out personal information over the phone (79 percent vs.
70 percent).
However, when asked about specific protection habits, both men and women
still report using various everyday practices:
-- Seventy-five percent are shredding documents containing personal
information, such as bank statements and credit cards, and unsolicited
credit card offers before disposal.
-- Seventy-one percent report keeping their Social Security card in a safe
place.
-- More than half of the general public (53 percent) order a credit report
at least once every two years - one of the most effective ways to
ensure that no one is misusing your credit.
"It's important for consumers to continue to pay attention to their
surroundings and adopt identity theft awareness and prevention tips into their
daily lives," said Jay Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft
Resource Center. "It's these everyday practices, such as shredding and
keeping a watchful eye on personal accounts, that help protect us from this
common crime."
(1) Source: Javelin Strategy and Research, 2008 Identity Fraud Survey
Report
About Identity Theft Resource Center
The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a national nonprofit
organization that focuses exclusively on identity theft. ITRC was founded in
December 1999 by Linda and Jay Foley. The seed of ITRC was planted in 1997
when Linda's then employer used the information on her tax forms to get credit
cards and a cell phone. At that time, there was little information for
victims to use and no network of people with whom to talk. At first, Linda
volunteered with another program that had done some work in victim assistance
for this crime. Very quickly, however, it became apparent that a specialized
program was needed, focusing on victim assistance and serving as a
clearinghouse of information The ITRC has received numerous accolades for its
work by victims, law enforcement, businesses, legislators and governmental
officials, and is a major player in the war against this crime. The national
office is based in San Diego, Calif., with ITRC representatives working
throughout the United States.
About Fellowes
Headquartered in Itasca, Ill., Fellowes, Inc. offers an impressive range
of products to equip the workspace, including paper shredders, binders and
laminators, desktop accessories and record storage solutions. Fellowes, Inc.
owns and operates subsidiaries in Canada, United Kingdom, Benelux, France,
Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Russia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, China and
Australia. The company employs more than 2,700 people throughout the world
and expects global sales in excess of $700 million this year. For more
information, visit http://www.fellowes.com.
For more information contact:
Lori Geller
GolinHarris
(312) 729-4290
lgeller@golinharris.com
SOURCE Fellowes, Inc.
