Q41: Have you ever been a victim of identity theft?

Demographic and experience categories Yes No Do not know
All respondents 9.8 ( 0.8) 88.5 ( 0.9) 1.6 ( 0.4)
AGE GROUP      
18 to 24 6.1 ( 2.2) 91.0 ( 2.6) 2.9 ( 1.5)
25 to 34 13.3 ( 2.1) 85.6 ( 2.3) 1.1 ( 0.9)
35 to 44 11.3 ( 2.1) 87.0 ( 2.3) 1.7 ( 1.0)
45 to 54 11.2 ( 2.1) 87.3 ( 2.2) 1.5 ( 0.8)
55 to 64 10.6 ( 2.2) 88.2 ( 2.3) 1.2 ( 0.8)
65 and older 6.8 ( 1.7) 92.1 ( 1.7) 1.0 ( 0.4)
INCOME      
Less than $25000 9.4 ( 1.3) 87.9 ( 1.5) 2.7 ( 0.8)
$25000 to $49999 7.1 ( 1.4) 92.1 ( 1.5) 0.8 ( 0.5)
$50000 to $74999 13.1 ( 2.3) 84.9 ( 2.5) 2.0 ( 1.1)
$75000+ 11.8 ( 2.1) 87.1 ( 2.2) 1.1 ( 0.8)
EDUCATION      
Less than high school 9.0 ( 2.1) 85.6 ( 2.7) 5.4 ( 1.8)
High school 9.2 ( 1.4) 88.4 ( 1.6) 2.4 ( 0.9)
Some post-secondary education 12.6 ( 1.7) 87.2 ( 1.7) 0.3 ( 0.2)
BA or more 8.3 ( 1.4) 90.8 ( 1.5) 0.9 ( 0.6)
ETHNICITY      
White 8.1 ( 1.0) 90.4 ( 1.1) 1.5 ( 0.5)
Black 18.4 ( 2.4) 80.4 ( 2.5) 1.2 ( 0.6)
Hispanic 11.3 ( 1.9) 85.9 ( 2.1) 2.8 ( 1.1)
Other 8.0 ( 3.7) 90.3 ( 3.9) 1.7 ( 1.4)
SEX      
Male 9.0 ( 1.2) 89.2 ( 1.4) 1.8 ( 0.6)
Female 10.7 ( 1.1) 88.0 ( 1.2) 1.4 ( 0.4)
EMPLOYMENT STATUS      
Actively employed (FT or PT) 10.7 ( 1.1) 88.2 ( 1.2) 1.1 ( 0.4)
Student 9.4 ( 4.1) 86.2 ( 5.7) 4.4 ( 4.3)
Not employed (homemaker, retired, unemployed) 8.2 ( 1.2) 89.3 ( 1.4) 2.5 ( 0.7)
Other 9.4 ( 3.8) 89.5 ( 3.9) 1.1 ( 1.1)
GEOGRAPHIC RESIDENCE      
Resident of a free report state (CO, GA, ME, MD, MA, NJ, VT) 7.3 ( 1.7) 91.1 ( 1.8) 1.6 ( 0.7)
Resident of another state 10.2 ( 0.9) 88.2 ( 1.0) 1.6 ( 0.4)
FINANCIAL AND CREDIT REPORT EXPERIENCE      
Obtained a credit report 12.2 ( 1.2) 87.0 ( 1.2) 0.8 ( 0.4)
Did not obtain a credit report 6.6 ( 1.1) 90.6 ( 1.2) 2.8 ( 0.7)
       
Obtained credit score 11.8 ( 1.5) 87.1 ( 1.6) 1.1 ( 0.6)
Did not obtain credit score 8.9 ( 1.0) 89.2 ( 1.1) 1.9 ( 0.5)
       
Disputed information on credit report 19.5 ( 2.5) 78.5 ( 2.7) 2.0 ( 1.3)
Did not dispute credit report information 7.7 ( 0.8) 90.7 ( 0.9) 1.6 ( 0.4)
       
Had an auto or mortgage loan 10.8 ( 1.0) 87.9 ( 1.1) 1.3 ( 0.4)
Did not have an auto or mortgage loan 6.5 ( 1.3) 90.6 ( 1.6) 2.9 ( 0.9)
       
Was a victim of identity theft 100 ( 0.0) 0.0 ( 0.0) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Was not a victim of identity theft 0.0 ( 0.0) 98.2 ( 0.4) 1.8 ( 0.4)
       
Obtained credit report due to an adverse action 17.8 ( 3.6) 78.3 ( 4.2) 4.0 ( 2.7)
Did not obtain credit report due to an adverse action 9.1 ( 0.8) 89.4 ( 0.9) 1.4 ( 0.3)

Percent estimates totaling 100% within each demographic and experience category, with standard errors in parentheses
 
GAO-05-411SP Credit Reporting Literacy Survey Data
Full Report: GAO-05-223