Businesses may be increasingly aware of identity theft threats to their customers, but an Experian survey shows that many consumers still seriously underestimate their risk of falling victim to identity thieves. In fact, the persistent and harmful myth that the majority of consumers are not vulnerable to identity theft is badly in need of debunking.
Consumer misconceptions
The online Experian survey of 1,000 Americans, age 18 and older, found many consumers have a false sense of security about identity theft, even those who regularly engage in behaviors that can dramatically elevate their risk of having their identities stolen. For example:
- Sixty-two percent of consumers said the security of their personal information online is a minor concern that doesn’t worry them much, and 17 percent never worry about it at all. The top reason for their lack of concern? Twenty-seven percent said it was because they didn’t share that much personal identifiable information (PII) online. Yet consumers store an average of 3.4 types of PII online, and have a large digital footprint that can make it easy for cybercrooks to track and steal their information.
- Half believe poor credit means identity thieves won’t be interested in stealing their PII.
- Twelve percent believe they’re safe because they take security precautions, and 9 percent think using only secure websites insulates them from identity theft risks.
Risky behaviors
When identity theft occurs, consumers are likely to blame any business they associate with the theft. A Gemalto survey found that consumers said protecting their data is 70 percent the responsibility of the companies they do business with, and just 30 percent their own responsibility, Infosecurity Magazine reports. What’s more, 29 percent said they don’t think businesses take their responsibilities seriously enough when it comes to protecting consumer data.
Yet the survey found consumers are probably far more responsible for identity theft than they think because they continue to engage in behaviors that put them at greater risk. These include:
- Shopping online over a public Wi-Fi connection (43 percent)
- Allowing others to use online account names and passwords (33 percent)
- Letting others know their mobile device passwords (29 percent)
- Sharing payment card numbers and/or PINs (25 percent)
- Letting others use their PII to secure a job or credit (20 percent)
- Failing to enroll in credit monitoring or identity theft protection services (82 percent)
- Leaving it up to their banks and credit card companies to catch signs of fraud (81 percent)
These dangerous habits can expose consumers’ PII to cybercriminals, even though half of those we surveyed didn’t think they were likely to become victims of identity theft.
Impact of identity theft
When consumers become identity theft victims, they experience a range of negative emotions and real consequences that affect them personally and financially. According to a survey by the Identity Theft Resource Center, identity theft victims reported feeling frustrated, fearful, angry and stressed. Many had trouble concentrating, lost sleep and felt physically ill because of the crime. They also reported the identity theft overshadowed their personal relationships, their personal and professional credibility, and even affected their ability to get jobs. Some even lost their jobs as a result.
What companies can do
Clearly, identity theft can be devastating and consumers need to do more to protect themselves. When it occurs, identity theft also undermines the consumer’s trust in companies and institutions, especially if the identity theft occurred in connection to or following a data breach.
Helping consumers protect themselves from identity theft benefits everyone. Consumers can avoid the financial and emotional turmoil identity theft causes, and companies can help preserve their relationship with customers.
As part of an effective data breach response plan, companies should include a consumer care element that provides breached consumers with:
- Free identity theft protection and credit monitoring services
- Dark web and internet records scanning
- Fraud resolution services
- Identity theft insurance
Myth debunked
Year after year, identity theft statistics demonstrate that most consumers are at risk of falling prey to identity thieves, no matter what they believe to the contrary. Unfortunately, consumers continue to take actions that can place their identities at risk. While you can’t force your customers to stop accessing their bank accounts over airport Wi-Fi or using the same password for all their financial accounts, you can take steps to reduce the risk they’ll experience identity theft because of something your organization did or didn’t do.
Helping consumers protect themselves from identity theft makes good business sense, and it’s the right thing to do. Plus, consumers expect it; according to the Ponemon Institute’s “Mega Data Breach: Consumer Sentiment” survey, 63 percent of consumers believe a company that experiences a data breach should offer free identity protection to customers affected by the breach.