Identity Theft is Highest Rising Crime in USA, claims Report

In 2002, 161,819 individuals in the USA reported to the Federal Trade Commission that their identity had been stolen – bringing the number of incidences of identity theft reported in America to nearly 300,000 since the launch of a database clearinghouse in 2000. Meanwhile, TowerGroup estimates that US lender losses total more than US$1 billion annually due to identity theft.

TowerGroup suggests that greater investment is needed in infrastructure to combat this complex type of fraud. 'The best way for financial institutions to combat losses from identity theft is to prevent a stolen identity from being used in an initial loan application process.' This means new initiatives to check identity as part of registration, etc.

TowerGroup says that the internet and other self-service channels can fuel both problem and solution. 'These channels have markedly increased the incidences of credit card fraud and the footprint of identity theft. Yet the Web, with its capability to link partners and move information quickly and cost-effectively, has proven a strong ally for technology vendors providing new identity verification solutions.'

So, watch out for new elements to what constitutes an effective logging-in process. If it's happening in America, it won't be long before it's happening in Europe too - and reports of identity theft are on the rise...

Associated Link: The Tower Group

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