Even as overall crime rates drop, the risk of online scams scares Americans more than ever.
While crime and fear have existed as long as humanity, the methods people use to commit crime are always evolving. Capt. David R. Bursten, chief public information officer for the Indiana State Police, says advancements in technology allow for a field of cyber crimes, which he believes most often happen through over-the-phone and online scams. Other online offenses include financial extortion, credit card theft and fraud, email phishing, and identity theft.
According to Pew Research, crime has been on a slow and steady downfall since 1993. Of the crimes still happening, America seems to be shifting away from violence and toward the cyber world. Identity theft affected more than 6 percent of all Americans in 2016, according to Javelin Strategy & Research, and incidents involving stolen credit card information were among the most frequently committed crimes of 2017.
As it grows, identity theft has become a top fear for Americans. According to Gallup, the top four crimes that scare people most are related to identity theft. In 2017, 32 percent of people were afraid of having their identities stolen, and 37 percent worried that someone would obtain their financial information. Related crimes, such as password, email, and e-record hacking, also foster panic in the eyes of many.
The effects of identity theft can be life-changing, having long-term consequences. About 17 percent of victims are able to resolve problems within six months, but nearly 62 percent say their cases remain open and unsolved to this day.
Some precautions to help protect identity information include installing security freezes on bank accounts, shredding documents containing social security information, and immediately deleting spam emails, text messages, and phone calls. Professionals also suggest creating longer passwords on mobile devices and installing security systems on laptops or desktop computers.
This news brief was originally published in the fall 2018 print edition.
