Here Are the Ways Americans Are Protecting Themselves From Identity Theft (and How They Are Falling Short)
Most Americans do a pretty good job when it comes to protecting themselves, and their money, from identity theft. Is there still room for improvement when safeguarding your finances? Absolutely.
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Find Out: 3 Simple Steps You Must Take To Shield Yourself from Identity Theft
In August 2023, GOBankingRates surveyed 1,141 Americans to learn more about how Americans keep themselves protected from identity theft. Here are the ways Americans are protecting themselves from identity theft — and how they are falling short.
How Do Americans Protect Themselves From Identity Theft?
According to the National Council on Identity Theft Protection, fraud and identity theft makes up the top category in reports filed by victims to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Unfortunately, 33% of Americans have faced some kind of identity theft attempt in their lives. This makes it all the more critical to safeguard one’s personal and financial information.
In GOBankingRates’ survey, respondents chose from seven categories to share some of the ways they protect themselves from identity theft. Here are the results.
I keep sensitive documents and credit/debit cards in a secure place: 61%
I have different, strong passwords for my accounts and devices: 57%
My computer has an anti-spyware program: 39%
I check my account statements each month for any suspicious activity: 57%
I use two-factor identification: 48%
I avoid clicking on suspicious links, emails or texts: 57%
I check ATMs for any signs of tampering before use: 31%
There’s promising data in many of these percentages. More than half of overall Americans are working to keep their money safe. They keep sensitive documents and credit and debit cards in secure places, use strong passwords for their accounts and devices, do not click on suspicious links or open strange emails and check their account statements for unusual activity each month.
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Where Americans Fall Short In Identity Theft Protection
Other categories, however, fell short in identity theft protection efforts.
While 47% use two-factor identification, 53% of Americans do not. This may result in hackers experiencing more ease in accessing the devices and online accounts of the majority of Americans.
Just 38% of Americans have an anti-spyware program installed on their computer. For the 62% of overall respondents who do not, this leaves them vulnerable to unwanted spyware.
Only 31% of overall respondents said they checked ATMs signs of tampering before use. This means 69% of Americans could potentially experience identity theft at an ATM if they do not check it first.
Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 1,141 Americans aged 18 and older from across the country between August 2 and August 6, 2023, asking twenty different questions: (1) Have you ever been the victim of identity theft, a financial scam or financial fraud?; (2) If you have been a victim of identity theft, which type of theft did you experience?; (3) If you have been a victim of a financial scam, which type of scam did you experience? (select all that apply); (4) If you have been a victim of financial fraud, what type of fraud did you experience? (select all that apply); (5) Have you ever been scammed making any of the following purchases?; (6) All together, how much money have you lost due to identity theft, financial scams and/or financial fraud?; (7) If you lost money due to identity theft, a financial scam or financial fraud, were you reimbursed for it?; (8) What is the most common way you are contacted by scammers?; (9) How often do you change your bank account passwords?; (10) How do you keep your money safe while traveling? (select all that apply); (11) Where do you think is the safest place to keep your money?; (12) How much physical cash do you keep at home?; (13) If you have been scammed out of money when shopping online, how much did you lose?; (14) If you are retired, have you ever experienced these common retirement scams? (select all that apply); (15) Have you, or any of your family members, experienced a Social Security scam?; (16) If you have lost money from a tax scam, how much did you lose?; (17) Have you ever experienced a student loan forgiveness scam?; (18) What type of impact do you think identity theft has on its victims?; (19) What are some ways you protect yourself from identity theft today? (select all that apply); and (20) Do you have antivirus software installed on your computer?. GOBankingRates used PureSpectrum’s survey platform to conduct the poll.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here Are the Ways Americans Are Protecting Themselves From Identity Theft (and How They Are Falling Short)
