The Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) is pleased to recognize the month of December as Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month. Identity theft is defined as a crime where a consumer’s personal or financial information is illegally obtained to commit fraud. As the holiday season is in full swing, it is important to stay vigilant when it comes to protecting your identity, especially in the digital space.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 1.1 million identity theft reports were filed in 2022 and it is expected to increase by the end of 2023. The most common form of identity theft was credit card fraud. The FTC received 441,882 complaints of stolen information pertaining to credit card misuse. Idaho ranked number 40 out of 50 states for Identity Theft with 2,225 reports in this category last year.

“As identity theft continues to rise, it is important consumers be proactive to protect themselves, especially in the digital space where many thefts can occur behind a screen,” said Patricia Perkins Director of the Idaho Department of Finance.

View the Press Release