Why agents in these states should recommend ID theft coverage

The Insurance Information Institute has identified where identity theft happens most frequently in the United States

Earlier this week, Insurance Business America revealed that Premera Blue Cross experienced a cyberattack, comprimising up to 11 million customers’ private information.
 
While this event raised cybersecurity concerns for many Americans nationwide, a recent study conducted by Travelers Insurance found that physical burglaries and theft were actually responsible for a majority of their 2011 identity theft claims.
 
The top four incidences, as outlined by the Insurance Information Institute, are:
  • Stolen wallet or purse
  • Auto theft
  • Online attacks
  • Home burglaries
Moreover, stolen resources were most often used for government and benefits scams, fraudulent credit card activity, and utilities fraud.
 
Occurrences of ID theft also vary by state. The top 10 states with identity thefts per capita, per the Federal Trade Commission, are:
 
10. Texas (tie)
10. Maryland (tie)
9. Arizona
8. Nevada
7. California
6. Michigan
5. Georgia
4. Missouri
3. Oregon
2. Washington
1. Florida
 
It’s worthwhile to note that Florida may lead the country in identity thefts because the state contains demographics that are most susceptible to this type of crime.
 
“The elderly are quite frequently victims of fraud,” John M. Simpson, consumer advocate at Consumer Watchdog, told 24/7 Wall St. “This may explain why “Florida — which has got a lot of old folks — leads the list in complaints.”
 

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