If you don’t want to become a victim of identity theft, there are 10 states you don’t want to live in – and Arizona ranks at the top for the second year in a row.
Ranked by the Federal Trade Commission, Arizona topped the list with the most identity theft complaints, with 142.5 victims per 100,000 people. Nevada, with 125.7, and California, with 122.1, followed close behind.
The numbers aren’t an accurate indicator, since the FTC’s database relies on reports from victims, but it’s interesting to note that the same states make the top 10 each year, while those at the bottom also remain stable.
The rest of the top 10 includes Texas (117.6), Colorado (95.8), Florida (92.3), New York (92.0), Washington (91.1), Oregon (87.8) and Illinois (87.6) North and South Dakota round out the complete list by coming in at the bottom.
While identity theft can target consumers in any location, thanks to the mobility of computers, many thieves favor high population areas, due to the ready availability of mail and trash to go through in order to obtain personal information. Lots of people who steal personal information no longer use it themselves – it’s much more profitable to sell it on the black market.
But thanks to LifeLock’s Command Center™, you can be sure your information is protected. Not only will LifeLock monitor the Internet and file-sharing networks to be sure your information is safe, but they’ll also check for payday loan, sex offender, public records, court records and change of address activity. If anyone tries to buy or sell your information, or use it illegally, you’ll be notified immediately.
One part of the Center’s services is eRecon™, which specifically searches for the illegal selling or trading of your personal information. LifeLock will monitor for any activity, notify you immediately if any is found, and will take whatever steps are necessary to be sure the situation is resolved.
