News and Media

Protecting Your Identity in the Digital Age

Each year, an estimated 17.6 million Americans are victims of identity theft.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person's personally identifiable information (PII) – such as date of birth, Social Security Number, or credit card numbers – to commit fraud or other crimes. In almost all cases, identity theft victims experience some type of financial loss.

In 2014, the average financial loss reported by identity theft victims was $7,761. This amount does not include any costs incurred like legal fees, late-payment penalties, or the purchase of identity protection services.