Identity Fraud Strikes One in Five Americans   7/10/2005 - 812 views,

According to a press release by Chubb, other findings include:

“Twenty-seven percent of respondents reported that their or a family member’s credit card was fraudulently used to charge purchases”, 27% reported that “they or a family member experienced the theft of a purse or wallet” and “8% experienced fraudulent checks written on their or a family member’s checking account” (shades of Qchex and telephone check payments).

And while sure, there have been a lot of data leaks from companies who hold our personal information in trust (87% thought that “companies that fail to adequately protect the confidential information they have on customers and others should be required by law to pay to restore consumers’ credit ratings” and 63% or more thought that such companies should be fined or even charged with a crime), consumers themselves are often the ones who give their information away.

According to the Chubb survey, 78% said that they would “give their Social Security number to a credit card company when applying for an account. Fifty-four percent of people surveyed would give their Social Security number to an auto dealer when establishing credit, 37% to a phone company when establishing service, and 53% to a college or other educational institution,” and, finally, 64% said that they have “disclosed confidential information online or by telephone in the past six months.”

Said Dan McCabe, vice president of Chubb & Son, “People need to be more protective of their personal information, particularly with whom and how they share it, whether online, over the phone or in person.”

Ayup.

For you Chubb customers, Chubb provides free identity theft insurance for those who have a homeowners policy with them. Allstate offers identity theft insurance in some states as well.