Every year, best state rankings come out drawing on thousands of data points that measure how well states at performing for their citizens. The rankings take into account a state’s economy, education, healthcare, public safety…the lists of opportunity for a state to be number one goes on. Massachusetts was ranked for best public schools. Hawaii has the best beach (of course). Alabama has been deemed the most affordable state to retire. Georgia? Well, they seem to be in the best state to have your identity stolen. Got to be good at something but not sure that is a ranking the Peach State wants to brag about though.
According to a publication from Consumer Affairs, identity theft across the United States has jumped by 584% over the last 20 years. To give you some perspective, the U.S. standard of living has increased by 75% over the last 20 years. In Federal Trade Commission’s 2022 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book showed that in 2022, Georgia had the highest number of ID theft reports per capital, with 574 reported cases per 100,000 residents. Louisiana came in second with 534 cases and Florida was third on the list with 524 cases, per 100,000 residents. It may seem that the difference between second and third place isn’t that large, but what clinches Georgia’s first place as first in stolen identities is that out of 10 rankings for cities across the U.S., four of those spots were claimed by Georgia’s cities. The most reported cases of identity theft: Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Alpharetta all came in fifth. Savannah came in eighth.
ConsumerAffairs reports that last year credit card fraud was the most common type of ID theft with 441,822 report cases. This accounts for around 40% of over 1.1 million ID theft reports in 2022.That still gives the rest of the fraudsters a way to big opportunity to wreak havoc. Helpful that USA.gov shares tips to prevent identity theft, yet no suggestions yet from the US government on how they are going to help stop it.
Today’s Fraud Of The Day is based on article “Georgia ranks #1 in the U.S. in identity theft, report shows” published by WSBTV Atlanta on April 26, 2023
One of the worst things that can happen is when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. That is called identity theft, and for the Peach State, it is currently on the rise.
According to a publication from Consumer Affairs, identity theft has jumped by 584% over the last 20 years. In the last 10 years, Louisana, Delaware and Pennsylvania saw the biggest increase in identity theft reports per 100,000 people.
