Affinion Security Center Survey Finds Identity Theft Impacts Women More Than Men
Posted on: Monday, 11 May 2009, 07:00 CDT
Women more likely to be victims, lose more money and take longer to restore their identity
The Affinion Security Center survey also offers a new perspective on a deep divide between how women and men are affected by the crime, and how concerned women are about becoming victims as well as how they respond to being defrauded. The study found that women suffer more from identity theft than men, and when victimized, lose more money and take more time to restore their identities. They also change their behavior more dramatically following the theft.
Women Hit Harder When Victimized
This study found that almost twice as many female victims of identity theft surveyed by Affinion experienced unreimbursed losses of
"While identity theft remains an equal-opportunity crime that affects all types of people, particularly given the indiscriminate nature of data breaches, we were surprised and saddened to learn that the women in our survey reported that they were impacted more than men,"
"Identity theft is a horrible experience, and I really wish I had known what signs to look for and had an identity theft protection service in place before someone stole my identity," said
Women More Concerned about Becoming a Victim than Men
Women are also more concerned about identity theft than men. Both women who have been victims of ID theft, as well those who have not, described themselves as being "most concerned" about having their identity stolen when compared to other types of theft such as a home burglary or having their car stolen. Approximately 80 percent of all of the women surveyed said that they were "most concerned" with identity theft, whereas only 71 percent of male victims and 59 percent of non-victim males chose this option.
Women Change Behavior More Dramatically After ID Theft
Not only are women more likely to be victimized, spend more time restoring their identity and lose more money than men, but they are more likely to change their behavior following their experience. 19 percent of women reported shopping online less often after an incident of identity theft, compared to 13 percent of men. 7 percent of women said they refused to shop online at all following the theft, while four times as many women as men who have experienced identity theft keep all of their personal information locked in a safe.
The survey was conducted on behalf of Affinion Security Center by Prince Market Research.
For more information about Affinion Security Center, please visit http://www.affinionsecuritycenter.com. You can also follow the latest Affinion Security Center news on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/asc_info.
TABLE 1
The amount of money identity theft victims lost in having their identity stolen.
Female Male Group Total None/$0 53% 61% 57% $1-$100 1% 1% 1% $101-$500 7% 8% 7% $501-$999 3% 4% 3% $1000 or more 17% 10% 14% Initially lost money, but credit card company, bank or ID Theft protection company covered the charges 11% 8% 10% Don't know 5% 7% 6% Refused to answer 3% 0% 1%TABLE 2
The amount of time it took identity theft victims to recover or restore their identity.
Female Male Group Total Less than 1 week (Case resolved.) 36% 51% 42% 1 week to 1 month (Case resolved.) 22% 17% 20% 2-6 months (Case resolved.) 15% 10% 13% 7-12 months (Case resolved.) 5% 2% 4% More than 1 year (Case resolved.) 6% 4% 5% Still trying to work through it (Case is still open.) 13% 12% 13% Don't know 3% 5% 4%TABLE 3
The top concerns of non-victims and victims of identity theft.
VICTIM NON-VICTIM TOTAL Female Male Group Female Male Group Female Male Overall Total Total Having your home broken into 19% 24% 21% 18% 34% 24% 18% 29% 22% Having your car stolen 2% 5% 3% 2% 6% 4% 2% 6% 4% Having your personal identity stolen 79% 71% 76% 80% 59% 72% 80% 66% 74%TABLE 4
The steps that identity theft victims have taken after the incident to keep their personal information secure.
Female Male Group Total Enrolled in a credit monitoring service or a comprehensive ID Theft alert program 8% 5% 7% Keep all personal information (ssn, important papers, etc.) locked in a safe 12% 3% 8% Travel with less personal information 9% 4% 7% Have credit/debit card set up to call and confirm each purchase 2% 1% 2% Monitor credit and personal information 12% 11% 12% Don't sign name on the back of credit cards/debit cards 1% 1% 1% Shred all important information before throwing away 28% 26% 27% Receive online statements only 2% 2% 2% Never mail payments or bills from a personal mailbox 3% 2% 2% Nothing 13% 13% 13% More careful/More aware 6% 10% 8% Check accounts and/or credit frequently 3% 5% 3% Do not give out any personal information 6% 9% 7% Do not shop online anymore 7% 2% 5% Do not use credit/debit cards anymore 1% 3% 2% Careful of who they give personal information to 2% 2% 2% Limit use of credit/debit cards 3% 2% 2% Do not use Internet anymore 4% 2% 3% Burn any important information 0% 2% 1% Use cash only 1% 2% 1% Keep personal information close/safe at home 2% 5% 3% Limit use of online activity/Secure sites only 4% 3% 3% Installed virus/firewall computer protection 1% 3% 2% Don't know 5% 2% 4% Did not answer 2% 1% 1% Other 7% 8% 7% Group Total (respondents could choose more than one answer) 143% 128% 136%About Affinion Security Center
Affinion Security Center, a division of
SOURCE Affinion Security Center
Source: PR Newswire
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