What is it about?
Using a national sample of U.S. households, the present study filled a gap in research by investigating the differences of identity theft experienced by persons victimized by family and non-family members. Minimal differences exist between family and non-family member identity theft victims except for certain age brackets, household income, and type of identity theft experienced, being personal information for other fraudulent purposes. Victims of misused personal information tend to be family members, experience revictimization, and reside in households with children under the age of 12.
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Why is it important?
Altogether, there are not many risk factors to indicate familial identity theft, but it is apparent that their personal information is likely to be compromised by another family member, which can be attributed to the open access to sensitive information. Not only does familial identity theft need to be investigated more thoroughly, but also additional research is required to explore whether the present results hold true with larger samples.
Perspectives
Victims of familial identity theft are essentially no different than persons who were victimized by non-family members, at least, based on a National Crime Victimization Survey sample of respondents who reported their identity theft offender(s). Future researchers need to explore familial identity theft to find preventative techniques other than family members exercising a reduction of exposed information given that family member victims are more likely to experience their personal information used for fraudulent purposes than non-family member victims. Available: http://rdcu.be/nk5K
Mr. John C Navarro
University of Louisville
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Familial Identity Theft, American Journal of Criminal Justice, July 2016, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/s12103-016-9357-3.
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