Abstract
This report is an update of the Federal Trade Commissions 2003 Identity Theft Survey Report and
Javelins 2003 Identity Fraud Report. Based on telephone interviews with 4,000 consumers, it offers
a holistic view of identity fraud--including methods for prevention, detection, and resolution--by
examining all causes of this pervasive crime. Despite the growing fear of Internetrelated fraud,
this research shows that identity theft is more frequently committed offline (e.g. stolen wallets
and checkbooks) than online (e.g. electronic commerce). It also concludes that family members,
relatives, neighbors, and friends make up half of all known identity thieves. Furthermore, the
length of time to detect identity theft is correlated with the amount of money embezzled. These and
other key findings are complimented by recommendations for both consumers and institutions to reduce
identity fraud in the US.
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