Stolen Identities: A Victim Survey (From Perspectives on Identity Theft, P 57-85, 2008, Megan M. McNally and Graeme R. Newman, eds. -- See NCJ-223725)

• NCJ Number: 223728
• Author(s): Henry N. Pontell; Gregory C. Brown; Anastasia Tosouni
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 29 pages
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Based on two victim surveys (n=378) conducted in 2003 and 2004, this exploratory study examined patterns of identity theft offending and impacts on individual victims.

Abstract

The victims’ survey responses regarding their experience of identity theft shows that it differs from many traditional forms of common and white-collar crime in tending to be repetitive over time, with the possibility of the victims being unaware of their victimization. Also, the harmful impacts of the crime continue beyond the offenses themselves as victims must deal with re-establishing the credibility, authenticity, and integrity of their identity. The survey responses show that victims of identity theft suffer considerable financial, physical, and psychological harm as a direct or indirect consequence of identity theft. The findings are useful in suggesting crime prevention strategies that target identity theft. More extensive public information campaigns must be conducted based on comprehensive analyses of how identity thieves commit their crimes and how their various criminal methods can be countered. Prevention strategies must include enhanced technologies and security procedures for storing and sharing personal information and conducting various transactions so that identity thieves cannot easily access the personal information of another person and then easily conduct financial transactions as though they were that person. Between October and mid-December 2004, surveys were e-mailed to 1,344 identity theft victims who had contacted the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) between August 2003 and October 2004. The surveys were designed to obtain information on the experiences of identity-theft victims. Information requested on the questionnaire included victim location, type of identity theft, estimate of business loss, characteristics of the thief, how victims found out about the theft, victimization time period, and the personal and financial impact on the victim. 10 tables, 16 notes, and 31 references