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A recent ABC News / Washington Post poll found that seven in 10 adults are worried about falling victim to online identity theft.

While technology and the internet provide convenience, most people feel that convenience comes with a price – namely, privacy and security. Here are some of the poll’s findings:

57% of American adults feel that the internet greatly diminishes personal privacy (up from 42% in 2005 and 38% in 2000).

72% worry that their personal information could be stolen online.

84% think businesses should do more to protect customers’ private information.

As consumers hear more and more reports about data breaches in which fraudsters gain unauthorized access to their information, privacy fears swell. Many polled expressed concern about the transfer of their private data due to recent bank mergers.

Interestingly, identity theft numbers are down this year, indicating the increased fear is unwarranted. 22% polled said they had had their credit card stolen or used to make unauthorized transactions – the exact same percentage from 2005.  Granted, 22% is a huge number of ID theft victims, but at least it hasn’t grown in the past 4 years. 

For more facts and figures, visit our Official Identity Theft Statistics page.

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