Abstract
The Javelin 2006 Identity Fraud Survey Report provides a comprehensive analysis of identity fraud in the United States, in order to help consumers and businesses better understand the sources of identity fraud and the actions that should be taken to mitigate it. Co-released by the Better Business Bureau, this report is an update to the Javelin 2005 Identity Fraud Survey Report and the Federal Trade Commission' s 2003 Identity Theft Survey Report.
5000 adults, including 505 victims, representative of the U.S. census demographics distribution, were interviewed to develop an in-depth insight on this crime. The survey is the largest and most comprehensive survey ever conducted on the subject of identity fraud.
This report analyzes responses to the 44-question survey and offers new facts on how identity fraud occurs; identifying its trends and financial costs, and providing answers to key questions for consumers, merchants, financial services, billers, law enforcement, government agencies and consumer advocacy groups.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
- Major Findings
- Recommendations
Measuring the Impact of Identity Fraud
- Existing Card Accounts Fraud
- Existing Non-Card Accounts Fraud
- New Accounts and Other Frauds
Consumer Profiles
- Who' s at Risk?
- Consumer Behaviors
Preventing Identity Fraud
- How is Information Obtained?
- How does the Fraud Amount vary by how the Information is Obtained?
- Who is the Fraud Operator?
- How is the Fraud Operator Identified?
- What is the Fraud Amount Obtained by the Fraud Operator?
- Detecting Identity Fraud
- The Identity Fraud Life-Cycle
- How long is Information Misused?
- How is length of misuse linked to how information was obtained?
- How long does it take to Detect Identity Fraud?
- How does detection time affect fraud amounts?
- How is Identity Fraud Discovered?
- Which Method of Detection Reduces Fraud Amounts the Most?
- Which Method of Detection is Most Effective for Each Fraud Type?
Resolving Identity Fraud
- What is the Consumer Cost associated with Identity Fraud?
- How Much Time does it take from Discovery of Fraud to its Resolution?
- What do Victims do to resolve Fraud?
- Do Consumers Face Other Problems?
Related Research
Appendix
- Defining Common Terms
- Methodology
