Sunday, May 15, 2005

I want my name back!

The New York Daily News is running an overview of the growing crime of "identity theft." Not too much is news, but it does provide a good summary of how it happens and what sort of effect it can have on those whose information is compromised. Some stats:

New York Daily News - Home - I want my name back!:

"BOOMING BIZ IN CRIME

  • Annual ID theft cost: $48 billion
  • Number of U.S. victims per year: 9.9 million
  • Number of New York state ID theft complaints in 2003: 663,300
  • Average thieves' profit setting up new accounts in a victim's name: $10,200
  • Number of new accounts set up in the last year: 3.23 million
  • Average thieves' profit using existing credit cards: $2,100
  • Average time thieves use victims' ID: 3.2 months
  • Average out-of-pocket expense per victim: $500
  • Average loss to businesses per victim: $4,800

BUSY BEAVERS

Identities reported compromised by hackers or other unauthorized use of data banks in recent weeks:

  • LexisNexis/Seisint ................................... 310,000 people
  • DSW Shoe Warehouse .................... 1.4 million customers
  • ChoicePoint Inc. ...................................... 145,000 people
  • Polo Ralph Lauren ............................ 180,000+ customers "

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